Synthesis of Functionalized Fluorescent Indenes from Electron-Rich α-Aryl Ketonitriles

A series of functionalized indenes bearing 1,3-dicyano groups were synthesized from electron-rich α-aryl ketonitriles in the presence of K(3)Fe(CN)(6) and NaOAc, possibly through tandem process involving dimerization, heterolytic cleavage of carbon-carbon bond, intermolecular coupling, and the subsequent intramolecular cyclization. The 2-arylindene compounds obtained possess good fluorescent properties.