The synthesis of a series of simplified analogues 6-10 of the ergot alkaloids 11-15, in which the ergoline A. B. and C rings have been replaced by the indan ring system, is described. The key intermediate, 1-methyl-3-oxo-1, 2, 3.9a-tetrahydro-9H-indeno[2, l-6]pyridine (20), was prepared and then elaborated to the corresponding analogues of lysergol, setoclavine, isosetoclavine, lysergene, and decarboxylysergic acid. Both the primary alcohol l-methyl-3-(hydroxymethyl) -1.2, 3.9a-tetrahydro-9H-indeno|2, 1-6Jpyridine (6) and the corresponding aldehyde (261. which was found to exist entirely in the enolic form, were extremely resistant to oxidation. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.