Diborane as a reducing agent - VI the novel reduction of indole-1-carboxaldehydes to 1-methyl- indoles,di(indolyimethyl) ethers and indolylmethyl indolines

Reduction of the indole-1-carboxaldehydes ($\text{1a}$-$\text{1f}$) with borane /THF gives the 1-methylindoles ($\text{4}$) in 42-91-% yields together with the di(indolylmethyl)ethers ($\text{8}$), the indolyl-methyl indolines ($\text{7}$), the unsymmetric ether($\text{10}$) and the indolenine ($\text{11}$) as the minor products, except $\text{7a}$. This appears to be the first report on the formation of symmetric ethers in the borane/THF reduction of an oxygen function. The formation of $\text{7a}$ and $\text{7b}$ from $\text{1a}$ and $\text{1b}$ implies that electrophilic substitution takes place primarily at position 3 of 3-substituted indoles, $\text{1c - 1f}$ did not form the corresponding $\text{7}$ probably because of steric hindrance. These results are discussed in relation to the mechanisms of borane/THF reduction, origin of the different products and electrophilic substitution in 3-substituted indoles.