Promoting decanoic acid unveils the transfigure aldehyde carbonyl activation for synthesizing bis(indolyl)methane derivatives

Abstract

The study presents a streamlined procedure for synthesizing bis(indolyl)methane derivatives using decanoic acid as a promoting medium. The reactions involve the addition of 2‐methyl‐1H‐indole with different aromatic aldehydes at room temperature for 24 h. Decanoic acid is effective for enhancing the reactivity of aromatic aldehydes through electrophilic activation. The new synthetic method yields pure compounds without requiring workup and purification. This method avoids metal‐containing catalysts and provides a simple, cost‐effective procedure with excellent yield. It is suitable for large‐scale synthesis and eliminates the use of corrosive acids.