2-Oxopropiononitrile → Indole

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 1 (426 mg, 1.26 mmol) in THF (6 mL) at −78° C. was added dropwise a 1.8 M solution of LDA in THF (1.54 mL, 2.78 mmol) and the reaction stirred for 1 hour, then pyruvonitrile (0.208 mL, 2.78 mmol) was added dropwise and the reaction was stirred for 15 minutes turning homogeneous. The reaction was quenched by the addition of satd. NH4Cl (10 mL), the layers separated, and the aqueous extracted with Et2O (3×10 mL). The combined organics were dried (MgSO4), filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified on silica gel gradiently eluted with 20 to 40% EtOAc/hexanes to give 2 (230 mg, 48% yield) as an off-white solid. Rt=1.71 min using Phenomenex 30×4.6 5u column with flow rate of 5 mL/min over 2 min gradient. 0 to 100% B. Solvent A=10/90/0.1% MeOH/H2O/TFA. Solvent B=90/10/0.1%. [M+H]=380.

Provenance & Evidence