29. Synthesis of Indole Derivatives by [2 + 2] Photocycloaddition of Indoline-2-thiones with Alkenes and Photodesulfurization of Indoline-2-thiones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/hlca.19970800205

The photochemical synthesis of indole derivatives starting from the indoline-2-thiones 1 is described. Irradiation of indoline-2-thiones 1 in the presence of alkenes 3 gave 2-alkyl-3H-indoles 4-7 or 2-alkylindoles 8-22 through the ring cleavage of the intermediates, spirocyclic amino-thietanes, initially derived by [2 + 2] cycloaddition of the C=S bond of 1 and the C=C bond of 3. Irradiation of 1 in the presence of trialkylamines 26 gave desulfurization products 27-32 and unexpected 3-alkylindoles 33-40. N-Acylindoline-2-thiones 1l-p yielded the deacylated products, indoline-2-thiones 1a-b, and ethyl esters 43 through γ-H abstraction by the excited thioamide S-atom when irradiated in CDCl₃/EtOH or benzene/EtOH. Oxygen analogues 2a-d also underwent intramolecular H abstraction to give the indolin-2-ones 2e-f and ethyl esters 43 in a similar way.