Silver nitrate catalysed tandem reactions of o-ethynylanilines with aryl aldehydes: Selective one-pot synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes

摘要

Bis(indolyl)methanes are an important class of indole derivatives that have been widely used in medical treatments. A novel silver nitrate-catalysed one-pot synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes has been developed. In the presence of silver nitrate, cycloisomerisation and bis-addition of o-ethynylanilines with aromatic aldehydes were carried out efficiently to afford the corresponding bis(indolyl)methanes in good to excellent yields.