Author(s)

Tyler J. Rauwolf, Zhijia Geng, Zachary P. Kinney, Jared L. Renfroe, Jack H. Roireau, Lauren T. Yep, Ram S. Mohan

Laboratory for Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL, USA.

An efficient method for the conjugate addition of indoles to a variety of chalcones using BiBr₃ in ethanol (190 proof) is reported. Products are isolated by a simple procedure that avoids an aqueous work up and extensive chromatography, thus minimizing waste. Bismuth (III) compounds are especially attractive from a green chemistry perspective because they are remarkably nontoxic, non-corrosive and relatively inexpensive.

Bismuth, Bismuth Bromide, Conjugate Addition, Green Chemistry, Indoles

Rauwolf, T. , Geng, Z. , Kinney, Z. , Renfroe, J. , Roireau, J. , Yep, L. and Mohan, R. (2019) Conjugate Addition of Indoles to α,β-Unsaturated Ketones Using Bismuth (III) Bromide. Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 9, 79-84. doi: 10.4236/gsc.2019.93005.