FeCl3 as Lewis acid catalyzed one-pot three-component aza-Friedel-Crafts reactions of indoles, aldehydes, and tertiary aromatic amines

A new strategy for the synthesis of 3-diarylmethyl indoles was developed through FeCl3 as Lewis acid catalyzed three-component aza-Friedel-Crafts reactions of indoles, aldehydes, and tertiary aromatic amines in one-pot. The reactions generated the corresponding 3-diarylmethyl indoles in good yields under mild reaction conditions by using less expensive, readily available, and environmentally benign iron catalyst. It is important to note that the key feature of this reaction is operational simplicity. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.