Indane reacts with oxygen, at room temperature, in the presence of isobutyraldehyde, and a copper(II) derivative (Cu(OH)(2), CuCl2, Cu(TPIP)(2)) to give a mixture of indan-1-yl hydroperoxide and indanone, together with small amounts of indanol. In the presence of Tempo or diphenylamine, as radical scavengers, no reaction takes place. Thus, no direct formation of indanol, as precursor of indanone, via metal-oxo derivatives is likely to occur. The ratio hydroperoxide/indanone is highly dependent on the nature of the transition metal in TPIP-derived complexes.