Ring enlargement reaction of 5,6-dimethoxyindan-2-one

2-Aminoindan derivatives has been shown the serotonergic activities. In order to find new serotonergic agent, we trid to enlarge the indan ring. 3, 4-Dimethoxybenzaldehyde, used as starting material was condensed with malonic acid, piperidine to form 3, 4-dimethoxycinnamic acid. It was catalytically hydrogenated and sudsequently cyclized by Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction to yield 5, 6-dimethoxyindanone. This compound was reacted with pyrrolidine and then acrylamide to be synthesized the 3-membered ring. (omitted)