Synthesis of azoxindoles

Heating N-substituted 2-methyl-3-phenyl-5-nitroindoles in methanol with excess base yields the corresponding azoxindoles. Under the same conditions 2-methyl-5-nitroindole is converted to bis(2-methyl-5-nitroindol-3-yl)methane. Reaction of 1,2-dimethyl-3-formyl-5-nitroindole with benzyl cyanide gives 1,2-dimethyl-3-(-cyano--phenyl)vinyl-5-nitroindole.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 622–624, May, 1990.