The stereoisomers of 1,2,3-triphenylindans were synthesized via 1,2,3-
triphenylindan-1-ols. The configurational assignments of all the compo
unds were made by chemical and spectroscopic methods. An unexpected co
mpound was isolated as a by-product of the Grignard reactions and was
identified as r-2-hydroxy-2,t-3-diphenylindan-1-one.