First electrophilic substitutions of 3-substituted indoles with diethoxycarbenium tetrafluoroborate: Functionalized indole derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/ardp.19903230205

The indoles 2a-2c react with diethoxycarbenium tetrafluoroborate (1) to furnish the indolecarbaldehydes 3a-3d. In the thermodynamically controlled reaction of 3-methylindole (2a) with 1 the tris(indolyl)methane 4 and diskatole (5), are formed in addition. The limitations of these reactions are discussed and evidence is presented for a C-3-ipso-attack and a Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement, respectively, leading to the formation of 3b or 3d.