Pyrrolidine → 5-phenoxy-1H-indole

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A solution of 2-nitro-5-phenoxytoluene (2.06 g) in dimethylformamide (30 ml) containing dimethylformamide diethylacetal (1.57 g) and pyrrolidine (0.77 g) was heated at 120° C. for 2 hours. Solvent was removed at reduced pressure and the residue dissolved in methanol. Raney Nickel (one spatula measure) was added followed by hydrazine hydrate (3×0.5 ml portions, one portion every 30 minutes). The mixture was stirred for a further 1 hour after the final portion of hydrazine hydrate was added, the mixture filtered and solvent removed at reduced pressure. The residue was partitioned between water (100 ml) and diethyl ether (100 ml), the organic phase separated and dried (MgSO4), solvent removed at reduced pressure and the residue column chromatographed (silica gel, hexane →10% ethyl acetate/hexane eluant) to give 5-phenoxyindole (0.52 g).

Provenance & Evidence