l‐Proline‐Catalyzed Knoevenagel Condensation: A Tandem Synthesis of 3‐Acetylcoumarinoindoles and Their N‐Alkyl Derivatives by Using PEG‐600 as the Reaction Medium

A tandem synthesis of 3‐acetylcoumarinoindoles 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e in the presence of catalytic amount of l ‐proline in ethanol medium is reported. l ‐proline has been utilized as an efficient and eco‐friendly catalyst for the Knoevenagel condensation of 3‐cyanoacetylindoles 1a , 1b , 1c , 1d , 1e with 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde ( 2 ) to afford the corresponding substituted 3‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)2‐(2‐hydroxybenzylidene)‐3‐oxopropanenitriles 3(a–e) , which without isolation were treated with hot conc. HCl to afford 3‐acetylcoumarinoindoles 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e in high yields. Subsequently, these were reacted with dimethyl sulfate in the presence of PEG‐600 (Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India) as an efficient and green solvent to afford the corresponding N‐methyl‐3‐acetylcoumarinoindoles 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e in moderate yields.