Methyl-6-methoxy-2-indolecarboxylate → 6-methoxy-2-methyl-1H-indole

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a suspension of LiAlH4 (7.6 g, 0.2 mol) in dioxane (100 mL) is added dropwise a solution of methyl 6-methoxy-1H-indole-2-carboxylate (8.2 g, 0.04 mol) in dioxane (50 mL) at 0° C. After the addition, the mixture is stirred at room temperature for 1 h and then heated at reflux for 5 h. After cooling to 0° C., the reaction is quenched by water (dropwise) and then 15% aqueous NaOH. After stirring at room temperature for 1 h, the mixture is filtered through Celite. The solid is washed with a large amount of EtOAc. The solvent is washed with brine, dried over Na2SO4 and evaporated under vacuum. The residue is purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel using EtOAc/petroleum ether (1/5) as eluent to yield 61% of 6-methoxy-2-methyl-1H-indole.

Provenance & Evidence