Methyl iodide → 6-Bromo-1-methyl-1H-indole

Participants

Reaction Steps

Sodium hydride (4.10 g of a 60% dispersion in paraffin wax) was added to a stirred solution of 6-bromoindole (10 g, 51.3 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (100 ml) at 0° C. under a nitrogen atmosphere. After 1 hour iodomethane (6.38 ml. 102.6 mmol) was added and the cooling bath removed. After 12 hours methanol was added dropwise until effervescence ceased and then the solvent was removed in vacuo. The thick residue was diluted with dichloromethane and washed first with water then with brine. The organic layer was dried (magnesium sulphate) and concentrated in vacuo to give a dark yellow oil. Filtration through a plug of silica with 90% hexane/10% ethyl acetate as eluant gave the subtitle compound as a pale yellow oil (10.5 g).

Provenance & Evidence