Synthetic approaches to 6H-9-methoxy-5, 11-dimethylpyrido [4, 3-b] fluorene are described, thus 2-[1-(4-pyridyl) ethyl] 6-methoxyindanone has been reacted with vinylmagnesium bromide to yield 2-[1-(4-pyridyl) ethyl]-6 methoxy-1-vinyl-1-indanol. However, on dehydration this compound rearranges to 2-[1-(4-pyridyl) ethyl]-3-ethylidene-5- methoxyindene rather than the required isomer 3-ethylidine-2-[1-(4-pyridyl) ethyl]-5- ...