Indole → 1H-Indole-1-ethanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of indole (5.71 g, 48.7 mmol), ethylene carbonate (4.72 g, 53.6 mmol) and K2CO3 (6.73 g, 48.7 mmol) in DMF (20 mL) was heated under reflux for 2 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with dichloromethane, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The light brown oily residue was purified by chromatography on silica gel (13×6 cm) using n-hexane/ethyl acetate (1:1) as eluent. This gave 1.78 g (23%) of the title compound as a beige oil. HRMS m/z calcd for C10H11NO (M)+ 161.0841, found 161.0849. Anal. (C10H11NO.0.1H2O) C, H, N. *Previously described in a) J. Med. Chem. 1992, 35, 994-1001; b) ibid. 1998, 41, 1619-1630.

Provenance & Evidence