Unexpected formation of fluorine-containing tetrahydrocarbazole during the reaction of indole, paraformaldehyde, and fluorine-containing β-ketoesters

A surprise and mild method to prepare fluorine-containing indole derivatives through a one-pot three-component condensation reaction sequence is presented. To our surprise, during the reaction of preparation of fluorine-containing indole derivatives, unexpected formation of fluorine-containing tetrahydrocarbazole was found. Moreover, this method has been demonstrated in the preparation of functionalized polycyclic indole derivatives in a straightforward and atom-economical manner.