Water → 5-Bromo-1-methyl-3-indolylacetic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

500 mg of a 60% dispersion of sodium hydride in mineral oil were added to solution of 1 g of 5-bromoindole-3-acetic acid in 50 ml of tetrahydrofuran and the mixture was stirred under a nitrogen atmosphere for 1 hour. Thereafter, 820 mg (5.8 mmol) of methyl iodide were added and the mixture was stirred under a nitrogen atmosphere for 24 hours. Then, 5 ml of water were added and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The residue was treated with 2M hydrochloric acid and the precipitate formed was filtered off, washed with n-hexane and dried. The obtained solid was recrystallized from diethyl ether to give 5-bromo-1-methyl-3-indolylacetic acid of melting point 192°-194° C.

Provenance & Evidence