Molecular iodine-catalyzed reactions toward the synthesis of bis-indoles under microwave irradiation in the absence of solvent

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University,

Jaunpur-222 003, Uttar Pradesh, India

Department of Chemistry, University of Texas-Pan American,1201 W. University Dr., Edinburg, TX 78539, USA

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Molecular Pathology, 1515 Holcombe Blvd,

Houston, TX 77030, USA

Community Health System of South Texas, 3135 South Sugar Road, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA

E-mail: bimalbanik10@gmail.com, bimal.banik@chsst.org

Manuscript received 04 October 2018, accepted 02 November 2018

Microwave-induced molecular iodine-catalyzed reaction of indole with carbonyl compounds in the absence of any solvent has been performed to prepare bis(indolyl)methanes. This reaction is extremely fast and produces products in good yield. An electrophilic route is described to explain the formation of the products.