Rhenium-catalyzed synthetic method of indanes and indenes through the C–C bond cleavage of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds

[Display omitted] •The reaction of α-alkyl-substituted 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with alkenes and alkynes in the presence of a rhenium catalyst proceeded through the elimination of the 1,3-dicarbonyl unit, producing the corresponding indanes and indenes.•The indanes and indenes were obtained in moderate to good yields.•This reaction is the first example for the rhenium-catalyzed carbon–carbon bond cleavage. When α-alkyl substituted 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds were reacted with alkenes and alkynes in the presence of a rhenium catalyst, the reaction proceeded through the elimination of the 1,3-dicarbonyl unit to form the corresponding indanes and indenes in moderate to good yields, respectively.