The valuable new synthetic intermediates, ethyl 4‐, 6‐ and 7‐formyl‐1H‐indole‐2‐carboxylates ( 10, 11, 12 ) were prepared from 2‐ethoxycarbonyl‐1H‐indole‐4‐, 6‐ and 7‐methanesulfonic acids ( 1, 2, 3 ), respectively. The transformation of sulfomethyl group to formyl function was accomplished through elimination of SO2 to yield ethyl 4‐, 6‐ and 7‐chloromethyl‐1H‐indole‐2‐carboxylates ( 4, 5, 6 ), hydrolysed to ethyl 4‐, 6‐ and 7‐hydroxymethyl‐1H‐indole‐2‐carboxylates ( 7, 8, 9 ), then oxidized to aldehydes ( 10, 11, 12 ). Protection at N1 of indole was not necessary. A marked increase in the rate of hydrolysis of 7‐chloromethyl‐indoles compared to that of 4‐ and 6‐(chloromethyl)indoles was observed.
