Abstract: A practical synthesis of Indanofan (1), a potent herbicide discovered by Mitsubishi Chemical Co. Ltd., was achieved starting from commercially available 3-chloroethylbenzene (2). 3-Chloroα-bromostyrene (3), which was converted to 1-chloro-2-(3-chlorophenyl) prop-2- ene (5) in 2 steps, was synthesized via one-pot bromination of 2. 2-Ethylindane-1, 3-dione (6) was synthesized from ethyl butyrate and ethyl phthalate (11) using NaOEt. The ...
