INDENE DERIVATIVE AND ITS PRODUCTION

Indene derivatives of the general formula wherein R is a) a phenyl group optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl, dilower alkylamino, acylamino such as acetylamino, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, pyrrole and dilower alkylpyrrole, b) a polycyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic group, such as naphthalene or quinoline, c) a heteroaromatic group such as thiophene, pyridine and pyrrole, optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkylthio, trifluoromethyl or trifluoromethoxy, R is selected from H, halogen , lower alkyl, benzyl, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl, dilower alkylsulfamoyl, acylamino such as acetylamino, benzylamino, dilower alkylamino, cyano, pyrrole, dilower alkylpyrrole, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy, R is CN, COOR , -CON(R )2 or COR , where R is a lower alkyl group, and "n" is an integer of from 1 - 3 inclusive. The compounds are valuable intermediates in the preparation of pharmacologically active indane and indene derivatives. Methods are also described.