Ethanol → ethyl 1-acetyl-2,3-dihydro-5-methoxy-1H-indole-2-carboximidate monohydrochloride

2,3-dihydro-5-methoxy-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester (0.084 mole) and 2M NH3 in methanol (500 ml) were combined and stirred at room temperature under argon over the weekend. The solution was concentrated to 100 ml, cooled in an ice bath, and filtered. The solid was rinsed with a small amount of cold methanol and dried. The residue was triturated in methanol/ACN and filtered, yielding 4.56 g of 2,3-dihydro-5-methoxy-1H-indole-2-carboxamide (intermediate 21, mp. 228-229° C.). b) Triethylamine (0.0106 mole) then acetyl chloride (0.0106 mole) were added to a solution of intermediate (21) (0.0032 mole) in DCM (40 ml) cooled in an ice bath under argon. The mixture was allowed to slowly warm to room temperature and stir overnight. The mixture was cooled in an ice bath and ice cold water (30 ml) was added. After stirring for 10 minutes, the mixture was filtered, and the solid was allowed to dry overnight. The residue was suspended in 50 ml water. The suspension was allowed to stir for 30 minutes, filtered, and dried overnight, yielding 0.40 g of 1-acetyl-2,3-dihydro-5-methoxy-1H-indole-2-carboxamide (intermediate 22, mp. 196-197° C.). c) To a suspension of intermediate (22) (0.022 mole) in DCM (150 ml), cooled in an ice bath under argon, was added triethylamine (0.066 mole) then trichloroacetyl chloride (0.033 mole). The mixture was allowed to slowly warmed to room temperature overnight. The mixture was washed with water, 2N HCl, and saturated NaHCO3. The organic phase was dried, concentrated and triturated in ether and the solid collected, yielding 1-acetyl-2,3-dihydro-5-methoxy-1H-indole-2-carbonitrile (intermediate 23, mp. 108-110° C.). d) To a solution of intermediate (23) (0.0154 mole) and ethanol (0.0231 mole) in 1M HCl/diethylether (200 ml), cooled in an ice bath was bubbled HCl (gas) for 60 minutes. The ice bath was maintained for 45 minutes, and the mixture was concentrated at room temperature under vacuum to 200 ml of an oily precipitate. The residue was triturated to a brown solid that became an oil after decanting off the diethylether. The residue was washed with diethylether twice, dissolved in methanol, and used without further purification for further synthesis, yielding ethyl 1-acetyl-2,3-dihydro-5-methoxy-1H-indole-2-carboximidate monohydrochloride (intermediate 24).