Maleic Anhydride → 2,4-Bis(1-ethyl-2-methyl-3-indolyl)-4-oxobutanoic acid
Reaction equation
[CH2:1]([N:3]1[C:11]2[C:6](=[CH:7][CH:8]=[CH:9][CH:10]=2)[CH:5]=[C:4]1[CH3:12])[CH3:2].[C:13]1(=[O:19])[O:18][C:16](=[O:17])[CH:15]=[CH:14]1>C1C=CC=CC=1>[CH2:1]([N:3]1[C:11]2[C:6](=[CH:7][CH:8]=[CH:9][CH:10]=2)[C:5]([CH:14]([CH2:15][C:16]([C:5]2[C:6]3[C:11](=[CH:10][CH:9]=[CH:8][CH:7]=3)[N:3]([CH2:1][CH3:2])[C:4]=2[CH3:12])=[O:17])[C:13]([OH:18])=[O:19])=[C:4]1[CH3:12])[CH3:2]Participants
4
Reactant 2
Product 1
Reagents, catalysts & solvents 1
Procedure
A stirred mixture of 160.0 g (0.97 mole) of 1-ethyl-2-methylindole (95 percent assay), 40.0 g (0.408 mole) of maleic anhydride and 700 ml of benzene was heated at reflux for a period of approximately eighteen hours and then cooled to ambient temperature. The separated solid was collected by filtration and dried in vacuo at 60° C. to obtain 52.4 g of 2,4-bis(1-ethyl-2-methyl-3-indolyl)-4-oxobutanoic acid (Formula VII: R=CH3CH2 ; R1 =CH3 ; Y=H), a white solid melting over the range of 221°-225° C.