Reactions of indoles with ortho esters,N,N-dimethylformamide and N,N-dimethylacetamide dialkyl acetals

Indole and N-methylindole react with oxa stabilized carbocations generated in situ from orthoformates to yield tris(3-indolyl)methane. The unsymmetrical isomers, e.g. 2-(N-methyl-3-indolyl)di(N-methyl-3-indolyl)-methane ( 4 ), were not formed as established by an independent synthesis. N,N-Dimethylacetamide dimethyl-acetal reacted with 2-alkyl substituted indoles to produce 1,1-bis(3-indolyl)ethanes ( 3 ).