Chlorination of 2-substituted 1-hydroxyindoles

Abstract

Chlorination of 1-hydroxyindole-5,6-dicarbonitriles and 1-hydroxypyrrolo[3,4-f]indole-5,7(1H,6H)-diones with N-chlorosuccinimide afforded previously unknown 3,3-dichloro-3Hindole 1-oxides instead of the expected 3-chloro-1-hydroxyindoles. The latter, however, were prepared in good yields by treatment of the above 3,3-dichloro-3H-indole 1-oxides with piperidine in ethanol. Reduction of 3,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-3H-indole 1-oxides with Zn in AcOH yielded the corresponding 3-chloroindole-5,6-dicarbonitriles.