An efficient synthesis of Ecopladib

An efficient synthesis of Ecopladib, an indole inhibitor of cytosolic phospholipase A2α, is described. A new reaction involving indole C3 reductive alkylation using an acetal in the absence of water and a novel transformation of the C2 methyl to an aldehyde via dimethyl sulfoxide-mediated oxygen-transfer reaction are used in the present synthesis, which dramatically increased the synthetic efficiency.