Methanesulfenylation of 2,3-dialkylindoles: synthesis and reactions of 3-methylthioindolenines

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)61869-5

3-Methylthioindolenines, readily prepared from 2,3-dialkylindoles and methanesulfenyl chloride, are heat and acid labile, yielding the parent indole and methyl disulfide as the major decomposition products, and are readily reduced to the parent indoles with mercaptoacetic acid.