2,3,3‐Trimethylindolenine and 5‐chloro‐2,3,3‐trimethylindolenine were converted into β‐diformyl compounds by the action of the Vilsmeier reagent at 50°C. The dialdehydes reacted with various arylhydrazines and 2‐pyridylhydrazine to produce mono‐hydrazones as mixtures of cis and trans isomers. Heating the hydrazones in refluxing ethanol produced 3,3‐dimethyl‐2‐(1‐aryl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)‐3H‐indoles in excellent yields. Reaction of the β‐diformyl compounds with hydrazine itself led directly to 3,3‐dimethyl‐2‐(pyrazol‐4‐yl)‐3H‐indoles.
