Abstract:
2-Nitrobenzaldehydes (3a-c) on reaction with phosphoranes (4a and 4b), and triphenyl phosphine in refluxing diphenylether provide 2-acylindoles (6a-c) and 2-benzoylindoles (6d-f). Alternatively 2-nitrobenzaldeydes (3a-c) on reaction with phosphoranes (4a and 4b) give nitroketones (5a-f) which on refluxing with triphenyl phosphine in refluxing diphenyl ether furnish 2-acyl-and 2-benzoylindoles (6a-f).