To a solution of trifluoromethansulfonic anhydride (1.13 mL, 6.75 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 mL) at −78° C. is added, via cannula, a solution of diisopropylethylamine (1.8 mL, 10.1 mmol) and 3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-indan-1-one, prepared as described in Example 8c, (400 mg, 2.25 mmol) in dichloromethane (5 mL). The reaction is stirred at −78° C. for 10 min and then is placed at −10° C. for 10 min. The reaction is then re-cooled to −7.8° C. and a solution of imidazole (920 mg, 13.5 mmol) in dichloromethane (12 mL) is added via cannula. The reaction is then placed at room temperature for 1 h, at which time it is diluted with saturated aqueous NaHCO3 and ethyl acetate. The layers are separated and the aqueous layer is extracted twice with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers are dried with MgSO4, filtered, and concentrated. The resulting residue is purified by silica gel flash chromatography (ethyl acetate-dichloromethane, 1:3 to 1:0) to afford 3-imidazol-1-yl-2,2-dimethyl-indan-1-one; MS (ESI) m/z 227 (M+H)+; 1H NMR: (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-d) δ ppm 0.80 (s, 3 H), 1.41 (s, 3 H), 5.52 (s, 1 H), 6.73 (s, 1 H), 7.12 (s, 1 H), 7.51 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 1 H), 7.56 (s, 1 H), 7.62 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1 H), 7.70-7.80 (m, 1 H), 7.91 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 1 H).
