Cyclic allylamine/enamine systems-6: Some reactions of 4-(indol-2-ylcarbonyl)-, 4-(indol-3-ylcarbonyl and 4-(indol- 3-ylmethyl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1 -methylpyridines

Indol-3-yl 1-methyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl ketone (1d) can be isomerised to indol-3-yl l-methyl-l,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl- ketone but the protonated form of this enamine could not be cyclised to the indole α-position. Both indol-2-yl l-methyl-l,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl ketone (1c) and its isomer (1d) were cyclised to 5-membered ketones by mineral acid catalysed Michael-type addition of indole β- and α-positions respectively onto the unsaturated ketone systems. Ketone (1d)was transformed to l-acetylindol-3-yl 3-acetyl-l,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl ketone by hot acetic anhydride. Strong base treatment of indol-3-yl(l,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl) methane caused isomerisation of the double bond into conjugation with the indole rather than into the endocyclic enamine position.