Photoacid-Enabled Synthesis of Indanes via Formal [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of Benzyl Alcohols with Olefins

An environmentally friendly and highly diastereoselective method for synthesizing indanes has been developed via a metastable-state photoacid system containing catalytic protonated merocyanine (MEH). Under visible-light irradiation, MEH yields a metastable spiro structure and liberated protons, which facilitates the formation of carbocations from benzyl alcohols, thus delivering diverse molecules in the presence of various nucleophiles. Mainly, a variety of indanes could be easily obtained from benzyl alcohols and olefins, and water is the only byproduct.