Although a synthesis of 1,3a,8,8a-tetrahydroindeno[2,1-blpyrrole (I) has been described,' a convenient approach to 1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexshydroindeno[2,1-blpyrrole (II) has not been reported? It is the purpose of this communication to outline a general synthetic route to this new class of heterocyclic compounds. The route to II described here involves the construction of a pyrrolidine ring on an indane backbone as indicated in the following scheme. The pyrrolidine ensmine II of 2-indanone3 has been reported by Blomquist and Moriconi.' The enamine III was alkylated with ethyl bromoacetate in acetonitrile to provide a 63% yield after hydrolysis of ethyl indan-2-one-l-ylacetate (IV), b.p. 11Y-121Β°C at 0.05 nrm; m.p. 47-48'C. The structure of IV was elucidated by the following physical data. IV:~~~m 1750, 1725, 750 cm-l; m/e 218 @); jyp (CDCl,) 1.15 (3H, t, J=7.5 Hz), 2.95 (a, d, J=5.5 Rs), 3.55 (21I, s), 3.70 (Ui, t, J=5.5 Hz), 4.05 (al, q, J=7.5 Hs), 7.25 (4% s). Treatment of the ketone IV with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in moist ether containing sodium bicarbonate provided an 85$ yield of a mixture of the syn and anti-oximes V, m.p. 77-880c;flmZl 3200, 1725, 1675. 1175, 750 cm-'. The mixture of oximes V was subjected to reductive cyclisation over 5s PI/C in acetic acid containing 105 by weight sulfuric acid to provide in 73% yield the lactem VI, m.p. 1.89'~. The structure was confirmed by the following physical data.