What Is Indane?
Indane is a bicyclic hydrocarbon, an organic compound characterized by its clear, colorless to pale yellow liquid form and a distinctive odor. It has a CAS No. of 496-11-7 and is used as an intermediate in organic synthetic chemistry, particularly as a metallocene catalyst.
Uses of Indane
Indane serves as a raw material in the production of pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, dyes, photo-functional materials, and functional resins. Photo-functional materials, such as those used in white LED phosphors, change their properties when exposed to light. The most common white LEDs are made from a combination of blue LEDs and yellow phosphors, where indane derivatives are utilized for the yellow phosphors.
Properties of Indane
Indane has a melting point of -51°C, a boiling point of 176°C, and a flash point of 47°C. It is miscible with ethanol and acetone but almost insoluble in water. Indane’s structure is similar to indene, but unlike indene, indane does not have a double bond in its five-membered ring. Its chemical formula is C9H10, and its molecular weight is 118.18 g/mol. Indane can be converted to aromatic compounds like xylene using a catalyst.
Other Information on Indane
1. Derivatives of Indane
Indane derivatives, including methylindane and dimethylindane, are widely used in pharmaceuticals. They can be synthesized indirectly from ethyl acetate and diethyl phthalate using metallic sodium and ethanol as catalysts. Derivatives like 1-methylindane and 2-methylindane, where a methyl group is attached to the five-membered ring, and 4-methylindane and 5-methylindane, with a methyl group on the benzene ring, are notable examples.
2. Related Compounds of Indane
Indene, structurally similar to indane, differs by having a double bond in its five-membered ring and the molecular formula C9H8. It is used in making coumarone-indene resin. Tetralin, also related to indane, has a saturated six-membered ring and is known as 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene with the formula C10H12. Another derivative, 1,3-indandione, is a beta-diketone with the indane skeleton and the formula C9H6O2.
3. Other Compounds Called Indanes
The term ‘indane’ should not be confused with indium hydride (InH3), a distinct compound with different properties and applications.