Convenient procedure for the synthesis of 2-monoalkylated indol-3-ones
Abstract
2-Alkyl-1,2-dihydroindol-3-ones are prepared from readily available 1-acetyl-2-methoxy-1,2-dihydroindol-3-one by alkylation reduction with sodium borohydride, and demethoxylation of the resulting 3-hydroxy-2-methoxy-4,3-dihydroindoles with Lewis acids. The stereochemistry of the reduction is also described.