The above 2,3-dihydro-5-methoxy-2-methyl-1H-inden-1-one (5.2 g) was reacted with 5.9 g of 2-ethyl-hexyl cyano acetate in the presence of catalytic amounts of pyrrolidine and benzoic acid in 100 ml of toluene. The reaction mixture was refluxed for 30 hours with simultaneous separation of water. Then, the cold reaction mixture was washed with water, concentrated and chromatographed in toluene containing 2% of propanol through SiO2 to yield 2.6 g of a yellow liquid. UV 347 nm (ε=33′450), MS: 355(M+), 243 (100%), 226, 198.
