Desulfonylation of Indoles and 7-Azaindoles Using Sodium tert-Butoxide

A mild method for the desulfonylation of N-indoles and N-azaindoles is described. Deprotection is carried out under basic conditions, using sodium tert-butoxide in dioxane. Several functionalized indoles and 7-azaindoles were efficiently deprotected by this method, which is mild enough to be used to deprotect compounds including functions that are known to be sensitive to acidic or basic conditions.