Zirconyl(IV) Chloride - Catalysed Reaction of Indoles: An Expeditious Synthesis of Bis(indolyl)Methanes

Rahul R. Nagawade ^a,b and Devanand B. Shinde ^b*

^a Division of Medicinal Chemistry – New Drug Discovery ,Wockhardt Research Centre,
Aurangabad - 431210 (M.S.), India
^b Department of Chemical Technology, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University,
Aurangabad - 431004 (M.S.), India

Absrtract
Zirconyl(IV) chloride is found to be an efficient catalyst for the electrophilic substitution reaction of indole with aldehydes / ketones to afford the corresponding bis(indolyl)methanes in good yields. The remarkable features of this new procedure are high conversions, shorter reaction times, cleaner reaction profiles and simple experimental and work-up procedures.