Efficient Fe^III‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Bis(indolyl)methanes in Ionic Liquids

Abstract

Abstract An efficient synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes through Fe III ‐catalyzed electrophilic substitution reactions of indoles with various aldehydes in ionic liquid is described. It was found that the ionic liquids involving FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O were the most efficient catalytic systems, and could be simply recycled without significant loss of activity. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)