Indole → 1H-Indole-1-ethanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

11.7 g of indole in 500 ml of DMF were treated with 4 g of sodium hydride dispersed in mineral oil. After 1 hour the mixture was cooled in an ice bath and 10 ml of ethylene oxide were added. The mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and was then stirred for 2 hours. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was treated with 50 ml of water and neutralized with 2M hydrochloric acid. The product was extracted into dichloromethane, the solvent was evaporated and the residue was chromatographed with ethyl acetate/petroleum ether to give 7.6 g of 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)indole.

Provenance & Evidence