[3] Derivatives include compounds such as 1-methylindane and 2-methylindane (where one methyl group is attached to the five carbon ring), 4-methylindane and 5-methylindane (where one methyl group is attached to the benzene ring), and various dimethylindanes.

Other derivatives can be obtained indirectly, e.g. the reaction of diethyl phthalate with ethyl acetate, using metallic sodium and ethanol as a catalyst.

This can be reversed by adding an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid.

They are very close derivatives of other empathogen-entactogens such as MDMA and MDA.

[4] Nichols also created an indane isomer of amphetamine, 2-aminoindane, NM-2-AI, and an iodized derivative 5-IAI.