A novel and efficient regioselective synthesis of various arylated highly congested 7-aryl-5- methylsulfanylindan-4-carbonitriles (3a–f), methyl 7-aryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4- carboxylates (10a–e) and 7-aryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carboxylic acids (11a–e) through base-catalyzed reaction of 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carbonitriles (1a–f) and methyl 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carboxylates (9a–e) by ...