Methyl iodide → 1-methyl-1H-indole-5-carbonitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 5-bromoindole (500 mg; 2.55 mmol) and cuprous cyanide (342 mg; 3.83 mmol) in NMP (10 mL) was heated under microwave irradiations to 100° C. for 30 minutes then at 200° C. for 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was partitioned with water and DCM and the organic layer was washed with brine and concentrated in vacuo to give a pink solid. Purification by silica column chromatography (DCM) gave a white solid. It was dissolved in DMF (5 mL) and K2CO3 (704 mg; 5.10 mmol) and iodomethane (543 mg; 3.83 mmol) were successively added. The reaction mixture was stirred at RT for 3 days and then partitioned between water and EtOAc. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over MgSO4 and concentrated under vacuum to give a slightly yellow oil which crystallized upon standing to give the title compound as an off-white solid (80 mg, 70%). LC/MS (Method A): 156.9 (M+H)+.

Provenance & Evidence