| Abstract: | The Diels-Alder reactions of 1-substituted-3-(2-nitrovinyl)indoles 3 with quinones and acetylenes give aromatized 1:1 adducts (- nitrous acid) ( 1 ) or (- nitrous acid, -2 hydrogens) 2,5 . Likewise, dimerization (-2 nitrous acids) of 3 gives aromatized 2-(3-indolyl)carbazoles 4 . In contrast, 3 reacts with maleimides 6 to give 1:2 adducts (- nitrous acid or -2 hydrogens) 10 and 11 , respectively, along with smaller amounts of 1:1 adducts (- nitrous acid, -2 hydrogens; or -4 hydrogens) 12 and 13 , respectively. A mechanism for formation of the nitro products 11 and 13 is discussed. A 1:2 adduct (-2 hydrogens) 19 was also obtained from a Diels-Alder reaction between maleimide and the vinylindole produced in situ by condensing 1-methylindole with acetone. The stereochemisty of this 1:2 adduct has been determined by X-ray crystallography. |
