Azaindoles. 69. Some reactions of 5-cyano-6-chloro-7-azaindoles and lactam-lactim tautomerism in 5-cyano-6-hydroxy-7-azaindolines

Electrophilic substitution in the 3-position of 1-benzyl-4-methyl-5-cyano-6-chloro-7-azaindole requires more severe conditions than in 7-azaindoles without the 5-cyano-substituent. Increased ease of nucleophilic replacement of the chlorine atom by the methoxy group has been observed in 1-benzyl- (and 1-butyl)-4-methyl-5-cyano-6-chloro-7-azaindoles, and the cyano-group in these compounds has been found to be resistant to hydrolysis and alcoholysis. The introduction into 1-benzyl- (and 1-butyl)-4-methyl-6-hydroxy-7-azaindoles of a 5-cyano-substituent results in a shift of the lactam-lactim tautomeric equilibrium towards the lactim forms.For communication 68, see 1].Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 100–106, January, 1987.