A practical synthesis of 5-hydroxy-1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-1, 3, 3-trimethylindan was achieved from α-methylstyrene. The starting compound was dimerized in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid to produce 1-phenyl-1, 3, 3-trimethylindan. Aromatic nitration of the phenylindane was carried out using a mixture of nitric acid and acetic anhydride. The nitro group was then converted to hydroxyl via reduction and a diazonium salt sequence to ...
