Synthesis of 3,3′- Di-indolylmethanes under mild conditions by Microwave Irradiation Mediated Reactions of Indoles with C, N-Diaryl nitrones

3,3′-Di-indolylmethane derivatives are important biologically active compounds possessing anti-cancer properties. Hence, development of synthetic routes to these are of great interest to organic chemists. In the present communication we report a high-yield method using mild reaction conditions and short reaction times for the synthesis of 3,3′-di-indolylmethane derivatives. The method involved reactions of indole and substituted indoles with C,N-disubstituted nitrones in the presence of acid catalysts, with the utilisation of microwave irradiation techniques. Reactions of indole, 2-methyl indole and 2-phenyl indole were performed with ten different C,N-diaryl- and C-aryl-N-methyl- nitrones in dichloromethane solution in the absence and presence of acid catalysts, viz. ytterbium triflate, p-toluene sulphonic acid and Montmorillonite clay K-10. Reaction times varied between 2 to 18 minutes. In general, yields of the catalysed reactions were above 75%. The products were characterised spectroscopically, including two-dimensional NMR studies. The microwave irradiation technique enhanced reaction rates by a significant amount. Ytterbium triflate proved to be the best catalyst, giving clean reactions, without formation of by-products, in high yields. The structure and conformation of 3,3′-di-indolyl-phenylmethane were computed. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: We report a high-yield method using mild reaction conditions and short reaction times for the synthesis of 3,3′-di-indolylmethane derivatives, involving reactions of indole and substituted indoles with C, N-disubstituted nitrones in the presence of acid catalysts using microwave irradiation.

Sequencing Groebke–Blackburn–Bienaymé and Aza-Michael Addition Reactions: A Modular Strategy for Accessing a Diverse Collection of Constrained Benzoxazepine and Imidazopyrazine Systems

We present a divergent strategy that permits access to diversely functionalized benzoxazepinium scaffolds fused to various heterocycles. The described strategy features a one-pot combination of the Groebke–Blackburn–Bienaymé reaction and an aza-Michael addition. Methyl (E)-4-(2-formylphenoxy)but-2-enoate and its derivatives are utilized as central elements in this cascade. These building blocks are reacted with a variety of functionalized amino-azines and tert-butyl isocyanide under ytterbium triflate [Yb(OTf)3] catalysis. The ensuing cascade represents a rapid, modular and atom-economic process that leads to the construction of a diverse collection of constrained benzoxazepinium systems from a wide substrate scope.