Iron(II) Chloride–1,1′-Binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine (FeCl2–BINAM) Complex Catalyzed Domino Synthesis of Bisindolylmethanes from Indoles and Primary Alcohols
Biologically important bisindolylmethanes are synthesized in a domino fashion by using an iron(II) chloride-(+/-)-1,1-binaphthyl-2,2-diamine [FeCl2-(+/-)-BINAM] complex as the catalyst. This method proceeds via oxidation of a primary alcohol into the corresponding aldehyde followed by nucleophilic addition of an indole in the presence of the catalyst. A reaction intermediate is synthesized separately and converted into the bisindolylmethane product under the same reaction conditions as support for the proposed mechanism.