One-Pot Synthesis of Heterocyclic beta-Chlorovinyl Aldehydes Using Vilsmeier Reagent

3-Chloro-1H-indole-2-carboxaldehydes are obtained in moderate yields by the one-pot reaction of various substituted 2-(carboxymethyl)amino]benzoic acids (1a-d) using Vilsmeier reagent (DMF/POCl(3)). The benzfused acyclic diacids analogous to 1a in which nitrogen was replaced by oxygen and sulfur also underwent the reaction smoothly. 3-Chloro-1H-pyrrole-2,4-dicarboxaldehyde was obtained as the only product by the reaction of N-carboxymethyl beta-alanine.