Sodium Hydroxide → methyl 1-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-2-carboxylate

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Reaction Steps

A solution of methyl-1-methylindole-carboxylate* (6.0 g) in trifluoroacetic acid (50 ml) is cooled in an ice bath as sodium borohydride pellets (6.0 g) are added slowly, keeping the temperature below 10° C. The slurry is allowed to rise to room temperature and then stirred overnight. The unreacted sodium borohydride is decomposed with 50% sodium hydroxide and the mixture is extracted several times with ether. The extracts are washed with saturated sodium chloride solution, dried over sodium sulfate, and evaporated to dryness to obtain an orange oil. This is distilled in a kuegelrohr (b.p.=128-150/0.2 mm) to yield colorless liquid, methyl-2,3-dihydro-1-methylindole-carboxylate.

Provenance & Evidence