The Synthesis of New Heterocycles Using 2‐(4‐Chloro‐1,3‐dihydro‐3,3,7‐trimethyl‐2H‐indol‐2‐ylidene) Propanedial

Abstract

4‐Chloro‐2,3,3,7‐tetramethyl‐3H‐indole (an indolenine) was produced by the reaction of 5‐chloro‐2‐methylphenylhydrazine hydrochloride with 3‐methylbutan‐2‐one via Fischer reaction. Exposure of the indolenine to the Vilsmeier reagent at 50°C produced a β‐diformyl compound, 2‐(4‐chloro‐1,3‐dihydro‐3,3,7‐trimethyl‐2H‐indol‐2‐ylidene)propanedial. This dialdehyde was reacted with arylhydrazines, acetamidinium chloride, urea, thiourea, guanidinium chloride, and cyanoacetamide to give various 5‐membered and 6‐membered heterocyclic products, each carrying a 4‐chloro‐3,3,7‐trimethyl‐3H‐indol‐2‐yl unit as a substituent, in excellent yields.