Indane

Indane or indan is a hydrocarbon petrochemical compound, with formula C₉H₁₀.

Derivatives include compounds such as 1-methyl-indane and 2-methyl-indane (where one methyl group is attached to the five carbon ring), 4-methyl-indane and 5-methyl-indane (where one methyl group is attached to the benzene ring), various dimethyl-indanes, and various pharmaceutical derivatives. Other derivatives can be obtained indirectly, e.g. the reaction of diethyl phthalate with ethyl acetate, using metallic sodium and ethanol as a catalyst. The reaction yields indanedione ethyl ester, which can react with the sodium ions yielding a salt. This can be reversed by adding an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid.