Synthesis of 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-N,N-di-n-propyl-1H-benz[g] indol-7-amine,a potential dopamine receptor agonist

In this work, the synthesis of 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-N,N-di -n-propyl-1H-benzg]indol-7-amine (1) is described. This compound was designed as an indole bioisostere to the known dopamine receptor agonist 5-OH-aminotetraline 2 . The key step of the synthesis was a Mukaiyama type aldol condensation between the dimethyl acetal of 1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)pyrrole-3-acetaldehyde ( 4 ) and 4-di-n-propylamino-1-trimethylsilyloxycyclohexene ( 8 ) followed by cycloaromatization to afford 1-p-toluenesulfonyl-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-N,N-di-n- propyl-1H-benzg]indol-7-amine ( 10 ). Scission of the sulfonamide bond in 10 gave the target compound 1 . A byproduct which was isolated was assigned to the structure of 1-(p-toluenesul-fonyl)-6-3-1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)]pyrrolyl]indole ( 11 ). This compound was also synthesized in good yield by an acid catalyzed dimerization of the dimethyl acetal of 1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)pyrrole-3-acetaldehyde ( 4 ). Preliminary screening of 1 indicated that it possesses central dopamine receptor agonist properties.