Water → 1-(1H-indol-5-yl)-N-methylmethanamine

Participants

Reaction Steps

Indole-5-carbaldehyde (1.0 g, 6.9 mmol) was dissolved in anhydrous methanol (15 mL). Methylamine (9.9 mL of 2M solution in methanol, 19.8 mmol) was added and the reaction was stirred for 3 hr. The solution was concentrated to a yellow oil and then dissolved into anhydrous methanol (20 mL). Sodium borohydride (262 mg, 6.9 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred overnight. Water (1 mL) was added and the solution was concentrated. Sodium hydroxide (5 mL, 1N) was added and the product was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×20 mL), dried over MgSO4 and concentrated to afford the title compound as a brown oil (980 mg, 91%). 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.60 (s, 1H), 7.56 (s, 1H), 7.35-7.15 (m, 3H), 6.55 (m, 1H), 3.85 (s, 2H), 2.49 (s, 3H).

Provenance & Evidence