A simple and direct synthesis of 3-nitro-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid ethyl ester derivatives from acetylated Baylis-Hillman adducts of 2-nitrobenzaldehydes is described.During the past several years, the Baylis-Hillman reaction has been extensively studied and is now one of the most efficient carbon-carbon bond forming reaction. 1 Many heterocycles have been synthesized from Baylis-Hillman adducts (BH adducts) including quinolines, 2 dihydroquinolines, 3 quinolones, 4 pyrrolidines, 5 and recently indoles albeit in low yields and under harsh conditions. 6Despite some interesting properties as intermediates for the preparation of pharmacologically active compounds, 7 3-nitro-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid ethyl ester derivatives have been relatively poorly studied probably because of disappointing preparation procedures 8 in terms of regiochemistry and yields (nitration reaction).In order to prepare the 8-nitronaphthalene derivative 7, we decided to follow described conditions 9 using the acetylated BH adduct 2a as starting material. Unexpectedly, under these conditions compound 2a led to the formation of 3 compounds. Among them, we were able to identify the 8-chloronaphthalene derivative 4 and the quinoline N-oxide 5 but we were unable, at that point, to determine the structure of the major product (13/13/31% isolated yields, respectively). Quinoline N-oxides have already been reported from BH adducts albeit under acidic conditions. 10 Isolation and full characterization including X-ray crystallographic structure determination of the unknown compound led to the identification of 4-chloro-3-nitro-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (6a, Scheme 1).Due to the potential interest of this compound we decided to optimize the reaction conditions in order to obtain exclusively indole derivative 6a. We first tried to determine the influence of the solvent on the selectivity of this reaction. Replacing DMF by DMSO, acetonitrile or THF led mainly to the formation of the naphthalene derivative 4 (51% isolated yield, entries 2-4). Thus, the use of DMF seems essential to direct the reaction towards compound 6a. We then examined the effect of the base. Using Cs 2 CO 3 instead of K 2 CO 3 gave similar results but NaOMe and KOH gave compound 6a in slightly lower yields (entries 5, 6, 9). We also evaluated Hünig's base (i-Pr 2 NEt), which gave also a slightly lower yield of 6a but after a much longer reaction time (24 h vs. 1 h, entry 7). Finally, we decided to evaluate NaNO 2 and KNO 2 (entries 10, 11) since these reagents behave as bases and as potential 'NO 2 donors'. These conditions clearly gave the best results since, in both cases, we observed only the formation of compound 6a in about 60% isolated yield ( Table 1).The mechanism by which this 3-nitro-indole derivative is formed from the BH adduct is not clear yet, but, in comparison with the mechanism proposed for the formation of the naphthalene derivatives, 9 we anticipated a common intermediate of structure 3 (Scheme 2).To try to understand the mechanism of this reaction,...