1-Phthalimido-4-(3-indolyl)-2-siloxy-1,3-butadienes: synthesis and Diels-Alder reactivity

New 1-phthalimido-4-(3-indolyl)-2-trialkylsiloxy-1,3-butadienes were easily prepared from 1,3-dichloropropanone and their configurations were established from NMR data. Their Diels-Alder reactivity with different maleimides and quinones was studied, high yields of the exo cycloadducts being obtained, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies.