Short Communication
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(2S)-3-(Indol-3-yl)propane-1,2-diol (11)
A) The solution of phenylhydrazine hydrochloride (1 g, 6.92 mmol) and sodium acetate (1 g,
12.19 mmol) in ethanol (30 ml) was stirred under nitrogen for 30 min. The solution of hemiacetal 7
(0.8 g, 3.6 mmol), mixture of anomers in ethanol (10 ml) was then added and the resulting mixture
stirred at room temperature for 1 h. The solution was acidified with aqueous H2SO4 (c 1 mol l–1; 10 ml)
and refluxed while stirring for the additional 2 h. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ex-
cess of CaCO3 and filtered. The solvents were removed by co-distillation with toluene to give an oily
residue which was chromatographed on a column of silica gel (cyclohexane–ethyl acetate, 4 : 1) to
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afford an inseparable mixture of 1- and 2-O-benzoyl derivatives 10 (0.8 g, 75%), as an oil. H NMR
spectrum (selected signals): 2-O-benzoyl derivative: 2.25 bs, 1 H (OH); 3.21 m, 2 H (2 H-3); 3.8 m,
2 H (2 H-1); 5.45 m, 1 H (H-2); 1-O-benzoyl derivative: 3.02 m, 2 H (2 H-3); 4.4 m, 3 H (2 H-1)
and H-2). 13C NMR spectrum (selected signals): 2-O-benzoyl derivative: 26.33 (C-3), 63.9 (C-1),
76.16 (C-2); 1-O-benzoyl derivative: 29.72 (C-3), 68.32 (C-1), 76.16 (C-2). To a solution of 1- and
2-O-benzoyl derivatives 10 (0.6 g, 2.03 mmol) in methanol (10 ml) was added a solution of sodium
methoxide in methanol (c 0.43 mol l–1; 10 ml). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 h
and then neutralized (Dowex-50 (H+); 5 g) filtered and evaporated. The crude residue (0.5 g) was
chromatographed on a column of silica gel (dichloromethane–acetone, 1 : 1) to give pure 11 (0.31 g,
80%), m.p. 60–62 °C, [α]D –21.9° (c 1.0).
B) To a stirred solution of compound 9 (0.5 g, 2 mmol) and phenylhydrazine hydrochloride (0.5 g,
3.47 mmol) in ethanol (20 ml) was added concentrated H2SO4 (0.5 ml) in portions. The reaction mixture
was refluxed for 2 h and then poured into ice and water (150 ml) and ectracted with ethyl acetate
(3 × 50 ml). The combined extracts were washed with brine (to pH 7), dried and evaporated. The
crude mixture was treated with sodium methoxide in methanol as described above (procedure A) to
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give pure 11 (0.25, 65%) as colourless crystals, m.p. 61–62 °C, [α]D –21.87° (c 0.96). H NMR spec-
trum: 2.7 bs, 2 H (2 × OH); 2.81–3.01 m, 2 H, J(3a,3b) = 14.6, J(2,3a) = 7.8, J(2.3b) = 5.5 (H-3a
and H-3b); 3.54 dd, 1 H, J(1a,1b) = 11.2, J(1a,2) = 6.9 (H-1a); 3.71 dd, 1 H, J(1b,2) = 3.2 (H-1b);
4.02 m, 1 H (H-2); 7.02 s, 1 H (H-2′); 7.14 dt, 1 H, J(4′,5′) = 7.5, J(5′,6′) = 6.9, J(5′,7′) = 1.3 (H-5′);
7.22 dt, 1 H, J(6′,7′) = 7.9, J(4′,6′) = 1.2 (H-6′); 7.35 d, 1 H (H-7′); 7.61 d, 1 H (H-4′); 8.14 bs, 1 H
(NH). 13C NMR spectrum: 29.28 (C-3), 66.28 (C-1), 72.03 (C-2), 111.33 (C-7′), 111.44 (C-3′),
118.87 (C-4′), 119.61 (C-5′), 122.28 (C-6′), 123.01 (C-2′), 127.52 (C-8′), 136.4 (C-9′). For
C11H13NO2 (191.1) calculated: 69.07% C, 6.86% H, 7.33% N; found: 68.82% C, 6.92% H, 7.00% N.
(2S)-3-(Indol-3-yl)propane-1,2-diol Diacetate (12)
A solution of compound 11 (0.19 g, 1.0 mmol) and acetic anhydride (1 ml, 10.6 mmol) in pyridine
(5 ml) was stored at room temperature for 16 h. The reaction mixture was poured onto ice acidified
with diluted hydrochloric acid (c 2 mol l–1) to pH 2 and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was
washed with brine, dried and evaporated to give a chromatographically homogeneous di-O-acetyl
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derivative 12 (0.2 g, 73%) as a colourless oil, [α]D –80.5° (c 1.23). H NMR spectrum: 2.07 and 2.08
2 s, 6 H (2 × CH3COO); 3.04 dd, 1 H J(3a,3b) = 13.8, J(2,3a) = 7.6 (H-3a); 3.14 dd, 1 H, J(2,3b) =
5.8 (H-3b); 4.09 dd, 1 H, J(1a,1b) = 11.9, J(1a,2) = 6.4 (H-1a); 4.26 dd, 1 H, J(1b,2) = 3.3 (H-1b);
5.37 m, 1 H (H-2); 7.06 s, 1 H J(NH,2′) = 2.2 (H-2′); 7.18 m, 2 H (H-5′ and H-6′); 7.38 dd, 1 H,
J(6′,7′) = 7.4, J(5′,7′) = 1.5 (H-7′); 7.70 d, 1 H, J(4′,5′) = 7.45 (H-4′); 8.16 bs, 1 H (NH). 13C NMR
spectrum: 20.82 and 21.2 (2 × CH3COO), 29.69 (C-3), 64.47 (C-1), 71.8 (C-2), 110.63 (C-3′), 111.13
(C-7′), 118.9 (C-4′), 119.62 (C-5′), 122.23 (C-6′), 122.61 (C-2′), 136.13 (C-9′), 170.55 and 170.8
(2 × C=O).
Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. (Vol. 61) (1996)