3-Methyl-5-methoxyindole

The synthesis of the 10-methoxytetracyclic ketone 353 (Scheme 26) started from the readily available 3-methyl-5-methoxyindole 355, which after Boc protection, was brominated, and then condensed with the anion of the Schollkopf auxiliary 356 (from l-valine). Removal of the Boc-protecting group, followed in succession by A -methylation and hydrolysis, gave the required A -methyl-5-methoxy-D-tryptophan ethyl ester 357, which was then transformed into the key 10-methoxytetracyclic ketone 353, via N-benzylation, Pictet-Spengler condensation, and Dieckmann cyclization. Subsequent N-alkylation by the vinyl iodide 358 followed by Pd-catalyzed (enolate-driven)... 

Addition of the alcohol 42 to a solution of BF3 Et20/TMSCN in DCM provided the nitrile 43 in 83% yield. Hydrolysis of nitrile 43 then furnished amide 44 in 85% yield. Demethylation of the methoxyindole 44 with BBra in DCM provided the hydroxyindole 45 in 80% yield. This was followed by alkylation of 45 with the bromide 46 under phase transfer conditions to provide the phosphonate ester 47 and subsequent cleavage of the methyl ester by TMS-I furnished trimethylsilyl phosphonic acid 48, which upon alcoholic workup afforded LY311727. 

On the other hand, an electron-donating substituent destabilizes the 1-hydroxy-indole structure, often to the extent that it cannot be isolated. Even in such a case, alkylation of the 1-hydroxy group greatly improves the stability. Among alkylations, methylation is the best choice. This fact explains why every isolated natural product has a 1-methoxyindole structure (91YGK205, 99H1157). 

In fact, iodination of methyl l-methoxyindole-3-carboxylate (109), a wasabi phytoalexin (98P1959), with KI and NaI04 (60LA84, 911OC5903) in TFA-HjO provides methyl 5-iodo-l-methoxyindole-3-carboxylate (110,72%) predominantly... 

Pedras and co-workers (98P1959) isolated a phytoalexin from Wasabi (Wasabia japonica, syn. Eutrema wasabi) and determined its structure to be methyl l-methoxyindole-3-carboxylate (109) (Scheme 38). Compound 109 had already been synthesized by Acheson and co-workers [78JCS(P1)1117] in ten steps from o-nitroaniline. Pedras and co-workers (98P1959) combined our tungstate method and Acheson s work, and synthesized 109 in 9% overall yield but in an impure state. 

A mixture of 9.5 g pyrrolyl-2-aldehyde, 29.2 g dimethyl-succinate and NaH (9.6 g of 50% suspension in oil) in 100 ml benzene is stirred at room temperature 6 hours, cooled and carefully acidified with glacial acetic acid. Add water and ether and dry, evaporate in vacuum or work up (JACS 72,501 (1950), JCS 1025(1959)) to get ca. 17 g (80%) 3-methoxycarbonyl-4-(2 -pyrrolyl)-3-butenoic acid (I) (recrystallize-acetone-benzene). A mixture of 12 g (I), 7 g sodium acetate and 70 ml acetic anhydride is left overnight at room temperature with occasional shaking. Then gradually raise the temperature to 70-75° over 2 hours, maintain for 4 hours and work up (see JCS 1714(1955), 986( 1958)) to get ca. 8 g (60%) methyl-4-acetoxy-indole-6-carboxylate (II) (recrystallize-petroleum ether). If desired, this can be converted to 4-OH-indole-6-COOH and 4-methoxyindole-COOH as described in the ref. or decarboxylated as described elsewhere here. If the 1-methyl cpd. is used, 1-Me-indole results. 

Methyl 5-methoxyindole-2-acetate lndole-2-acetic acid, 5-methoxy-, methyl ester (8) 1H-lndole-2-acetic acid, 5-methoxy-, methyl ester (9) (27798-66-9) 5-Methoxy-2-nitrophenylacetic acid Acetic acid, (5-methoxy-2-nitrophenyl)- (8) Benzeneacetic acid, 5-methoxy-2-nitro- (9) (20876-29-3)... 

The next three procedures provide useful synthetic intermediates. A stereospecific synthesis of ETHYL (Z)-3-BROMO-2-PROPENOATE affords an alternative vinyl bromide partner for the coupling chemistry in the preceding procedure. A very simple but elegant illustration of the flash vacuum pyrolysis technique is used to prepare BENZOCYCLOBUTENONE from o-toluoyl chloride. Another member of the functionalized indole family of synthetic intermediates is presented in a four-step procedure for 5-METHOXYINDOLE-2-ACETIC ACID METHYL ESTER. 

As a further illustration of the reactivity of the 3 position toward electrophiles, the methoxyindole (25-1) readily undergoes Mannich reaction with formaldehyde and dimethylamine to afford the aminomethylated derivative (25-2). Treatment of that intermediate with potassium cyanide leads to the displacement of dimethylamine and the formation of the nitrile (25-3), possibly by an elimination-addition sequence involving a 3-exomethylene-indolenine intermediate. The protons on the methylene group adjacent to the nitrile are quite acidic and readily removed. Reaction of (25-3) with methyl carbonate in the presence of sodium methoxide gives the carbo-methoxylated derivative (25-4). Catalytic hydrogenation leads to reduction of the nitrile to a primary amine. There is thus obtained the antihypertensive agent indorenate (25-5) [26]. 

TRYPTAMINE, N,N-DIETHYL-2-METHYL INDOLE, 3-[2-(DIETHYLAMINO)ETHYL]-2-METHYL N,N-DIETHYL-2-METHYLTRYPTAMINE 3-[2-(DIETHYLAMINO)ETHYL]-2-METHOXYINDOLE... 

TRYPTAMINE, N-ACETYL-5-METHOXY INDOLE, 3-(2-ACETAMIDOETHYL)-5-METHOXY SEROTONIN, N-ACETYL-O-METHYL ACETAMIDE, N-[2-(5-METHOXYINDOL-3-YL)ETHYL] N-ACETYL-5-METHOXYTRYPTAMINE 3-(2-ACETAMIDOETHYL)-5-METHOXYINDOLE N-ACETYL-O-METHYLSEROTONIN N-[2-(5-METHOXYINDOL-3-YL)ETHYL]ACETAMIDE REGULIN... 

Madclung synthesis, 27-30 Mannich alkylation, 106, 119 7-mcthoxyindole, procedure for, 8 6-methoxyindole-3-carboxaldehyde, procedure for, 115 116 methyl 4-[5-(benzyloxycarbonyl)indol-3-yl]methyl-3-methoxy-benzoate, procedure for, 108... 

Hydrolysis of 1-acetoxy- or l-hydroxy-3-cyanoindole (115) by hydrogen peroxide or 1 M sodium hydroxide gave the corresponding amide, while QM sodium hydroxide gave the 3-carboxylic acid which decomposed rapidly at room temperature with diazomethane, the last compound gave the stable methyl l-methoxyindole-3-carboxylate [78JCS(P1)1117]. 1-... 

Thallation of l-methoxyindole-3-carbaldehyde with thallium trisfluo-roacetate followed by treatment with potassium iodide gave the 4-iodo derivative in 91% yield, and this has been converted into many other 1-methoxyindole derivatives (86CPB677). When the thallated indole reacted with methyl acrylate in the presence of a catalytic quantity of pal-ladium(ll) acetate, 47% of the product was the 4-derivative 160, but 11% of the 5-isomer was also formed (86CPB4116). 

Synthesis of the 1-methoxy analogue of ( )-6,7-secoagroclavine 226 and its des-methyl derivative (227) have been developed from 2-nitrotoluene, proceeding through 1-methoxyindole in nine steps with an overall yield of 20% (86CPB677). 

Step D Methyl ester of l-carboxymethyl-2-methyl-3-p-chlorobenzoyl-6-methoxyindole... 

By means of the Arbuzov reaction the authors of [71] synthesized 2-(alkoxyphosphonyl)methyl-3-ethoxycarbonyl-5-methoxyindoles 74 ... 

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