A mixture of 1-(4′-hydroxymethyl-4,6-dinitro-biphenyl-3-yl)-propan-2-one (200 mg) and palladium on carbon (10%, 80 mg) in ethyl acetate was shaken in a Parr apparatus under hydrogen atmosphere (50 PSI) overnight. The reaction mixture was then filtered on a CELITE™ pad, the filtrate was evaporated under reduced pressure and the crude residue was purified by flash chromatography to afford [4-(2-methyl-6-nitro-1H-indol-5-yl)-phenyl]-methanol and [4-(6-hydroxyamino-2-methyl-1H-indol-5-yl)-phenyl]-methanol. The two products were combined and dissolved in dichloromethane (5 mL). Zinc dust (a large excess) and glacial acetic acid (1 mL) were added and the resulting mixture was heated at 70° C. for 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was then filtered on a CELITE™ pad, the filter cake was washed with ethyl acetate. The filtrate was washed with brine, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude residue was purified by flash chromatography (MeOH/DCM, 5/95) to give 55 mg of [4-(6-amino-2-methyl-1H-indol-5-yl)-phenyl]-methanol. MS=253 [M+H]+.
