Scope of the formal [3+2] cycloaddition for the synthesis of five-membered ring of functionalized indanes

We report our research about the synthesis of functionalized indanes in the pentagonal ring by a formal [3+2] cycloaddition using benzhydrols and styrene derivatives with electron-withdrawing groups joined to C-β, such as carboxyl, carboxymethyl, carbonyl of ketones, and nitro groups. We also report the configurational assignment of the indanic structures synthesized using several experiments of NMR.