meso-5, 5'-Dih-ydroxy-l, l'-biindan (I), an indan analog of hexestrol, haa been prepared from 5-methoxy-1-indanone by conversion to its ketaaine, hydrogenation to 5, 5'-dimethoxy-l, l'- moindan, and pyrolysis. Both racemic and mes0-5, 5'-dimethoxy-1, l'-biindan were formed (VI); the latter was demethylated to form meso-5, 5'-dihydroxy-l, l'-biindan (I).
