Some bis(indolyl)methanes have been synthesized, in excellent yields, under solvent free conditions, by reaction of indoles with aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes in the presence of nano titanium(IV) oxide as an efficient, heterogeneous, reusable, and non-toxic catalyst.
CF<sub>3</sub>SO<sub>2</sub>Na-Mediated, UV-Light-Induced Friedel–Crafts Alkylation of Indoles with Ketones/Aldehydes and Bioactivities of Products
A concise, one-step route to produce 3,3'-diindolylmethanes (DIMs) from simple indoles and ketones or aldehydes is reported. The key step is the ready formation of indole derivatives that involves the in situ conversion of CF3SO2Na reagent to ·CF3 under oxygen or air (1.0 atm) and UV irradiation. It is disclosed that most of the obtained DIMs show anticancer activities in human bladder cancer cell