Reissert indole synthesis

The Reissert indole synthesis is a series of chemical reactions designed to synthesize indole or substituted-indoles (4 and 5) from ortho-nitrotoluene 1 and diethyl oxalate 2.^[1][2]

Additional recommended knowledge

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Weighing the right way

Potassium ethoxide has been shown to give better results than sodium ethoxide.^[3]

Reaction mechanism

The first step of the Reissert indole synthesis is the condensation of o-nitrotoluene 1 with a diethyl oxalate 2 to give ethyl o-nitrophenylpyruvate 3. The reductive cyclization of 3 with zinc in acetic acid gives indole-2-carboxylic acid 4. If desired, 4 can be decarboxylated with heat to give indole 5.

References

1. ^ Reissert, A. Ber. 1897, 30, 1030.
2. ^ Noland, W. E.; Baude, F. J. Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 5, p.567 (1973); Vol. 43, p.40 (1963). (Article)
3. ^ Johnson, J. R.; Hasbrouck, R. B.; Dutcher, J. D.; Bruce, W. F. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1945, 67, 423.

See also

• Leimgruber-Batcho indole synthesis