Abstract: The syntheses of three novel substituted indanones namely 2,7-dimethylindan-1-one, 2-methyl-4,7-diethylindan-1-one and 2,4-dimethyl-7-methoxyindan-1-one are described. These indanones were prepared by different routes involving intramolecular ring closure of aryl-substituted compounds by Friedel-Crafts reaction. The t-butyl was used as the positional protective group in the selective preparation of 2,7-dimethylindan-1-one. The corresponding indenes were prepared by reduction and dehydration reactions from these indanones.

Key words: Friedel-Crafts reaction, 1-Indanone, Substituted indene