Reaction SMILES: [CH2:1]1[C:9]2[C:4](=[CH:5][CH:6]=[CH:7][CH:8]=2)[CH2:3][CH:2]1[C:10]([OH:12])=[O:11].S(=O)(=O)(O)O.[CH2:18](O)[CH3:19]>>[CH2:3]1[C:4]2[C:9](=[CH:8][CH:7]=[CH:6][CH:5]=2)[CH2:1][CH:2]1[C:10]([O:12][CH2:18][CH3:19])=[O:11]
Reactant: O=C(O)C1Cc2ccccc2C1
Reactant: CCO
Agent: O=S(=O)(O)O
Product: CCOC(=O)C1Cc2ccccc2C1
Yield: 96 %

Procedure:
A solution of indane-2-carboxylic acid (504 mg, 3.1 mmol) and sulphuric acid (2 mL) in dry ethanol, was heated at 75° C. for 3 days. The solution was concentrated in vacuo, and then partitioned between dichloromethane and water. The pH of the aqueous layer was adjusted to 13-14 with aqueous sodium hydroxide (5 M), and the layers were separated. The aqueous phase was diluted with saturated sodium chloride, and extracted (2×) with dichloromethane. Combined organic extracts were washed with saturated sodium chloride, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and evaporated in vacuo, to give the crude product. Purification on a Biotage™ 25S column (silica), eluting with 3% ethyl acetate/hexane, gave ethyl indane-2-carboxylate (526 mg, 96%). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.22-7.26 (m, 2H), 7.17-7.20 (m, 2H), 4.21 (q, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 3.19-3.39 (m, 5H), 1.31 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H). A mixture of ethyl indane-2-carboxylate (100 mg, 0.5 mmol) and aluminium chloride (164 mg, 1.2 mmol) in dichloromethane (4 mL), was treated with octanoyl chloride (0.1 mL, 0.5 mmol) at room temperature, and the reaction was stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was poured onto a mixture of ice and aqueous. Hydrochloric acid (1 M), and extracted (3×) with dichloromethane. Combined organic extracts were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated in vacuo. The crude material was purified on a Biotage™ column (silica), eluting with 5% ethyl acetate/hexane, to give ethyl (RS)-5-octanoyl-indane-2-carboxylate (110 mg, 65%). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.69-7.77 (m, 2H), 7.29-7.32 (m, 1H), 4.07-4.17 (m, 2H), 3.15-3.36 (m, 5H), 2.84-2.90 (m, 2H), 1.62-1.70 (m, 2H), 1.19-1.34 (m, 8H), 0.80-0.87 (m, 3H). A suspension of the ethyl ester (82 mg, 0.3 mmol) in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran (3 mL), methanol (1 mL) and water (1 mL), was treated with lithium hydroxide (43 mg, 1.8 mmol), and the mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and the residue diluted with water. The pH was adjusted to pH 4 with aqueous HCl (1 M), and the mixture was extracted (3×) with ethyl acetate. Combined organic extracts were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated in vacuo, to give the crude product. Purification on a Biotage™ 12 M column (silica), eluting with 2% ethyl acetate/hexane, gave (RS)-5-octanoyl-indane-2-carboxylic acid (60 mg, 80%). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CD3OD): δ 7.80 (s, 1H), 7.78 (dd, J=7.8, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.30 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 3.36 (tt, J=8.2, 8.2 Hz, 1H), 3.24 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 4H), 2.96 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 1.67 (tt, J=7.2, 7.2 Hz, 2H), 1.26-1.39 (m, 8H), 0.89 (t, J=6.9 Hz, 3H). A solution of the acid (60 mg, 0.2 mmol) in ethanol (4 mL) and water (1 mL) was treated with sodium bicarbonate (18 mg, 0.2 mmol), and the reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight. Solvents were concentrated in vacuo, and the solution was diluted with water, filtered (20 μm), and lyophilised to give sodium (RS)-5-octanoyl-indane-2-carboxylate as a white solid (54 mg, 87%). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CD3OD): δ 7.91 (s, 1H), 7.76 (dd, J=7.8, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.28 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 3.16-3.25 (m, 5H), 2.97 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 2H), 1.68 (tt, J=7.3, 7.3 Hz, 2H), 1.28-1.40 (m, 8H), 0.90 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H); LRMS (ESI): m/z 289 (M−Na++2H+); HPLC: 5 min.