To a solution of 2-phenyl-1H-indole (0.94 g, 4.85 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL) was added sodium hydride (60% in oil, 0.19 g, 4.85 mmol) with stirring at 0° C., and the mixture was stirred at the same temperature for 5 min. 3-(Chloromethyl)-4-isobutoxybenzaldehyde (1.0 g, 4.41 mmol) and sodium iodide (0.73 g, 4.85 mmol) were added to the obtained mixture and the mixture was stirred at the same temperature for 2 hr. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate, and the mixture was washed with 5% aqueous potassium hydrogensulfate solution and saturated brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (hexane/ethyl acetate=10/1-hexane/ethyl acetate=4/1) to give the title compound (0.60 g, yield 36%) as colorless crystals.
