Synthesis of novel 1-phenyl-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acids. II. Preparation of 3-dialkylamino, 3-alkylthio, 3-alkylsulfinyl,and 3-alkylsulfonyl derivatives

The synthesis of novel indole-2-carboxylic acids with amino- and sulfur-containing substituents in the indole 3-position is described. An Ullmann reaction with bromobenzene converted 1H-indoles with 3-(acetylamino)- and 3-(diethylamino)-substituents into 1-phenyl-1H-indoles. Reaction of 3-unsubstituted indoles with thionyl chloride provided indole 3-sulfinyl chlorides, which reacted with alkyl and aryl Grignard reagents to form the corresponding sulfoxides. The indole sulfoxides thus obtained were reduced to sulfides or oxidized to sulfones.