4-Methoxy-1H-indole → 4-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole

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Reaction Steps

4-methoxyindole (0.735 g) was dissolved in acetic acid (25 ml) and cooled in an ice bath. To this solution was added sodium cyanoborohydride (0.942 g) in portions. After the addition was complete, the solution was allowed to come to room temperature and the solution was stirred for an hour. The solvent was removed under vacuum and the residue was taken up in ethyl acetate, washed with sodium carbonate solution, water and finally with brine. The organic layer was evaporated and the resulting product was purified on a silica gel column eluting with ethyl acetate:dichloromethane (5:95) to give 0.404 g of 4-methoxyindoline.

Provenance & Evidence