Study the reactions of fluoroalkanesulfonyl azides with N-alkylindoles

The reactions of fluoroalkanesulfonyl azides RfSO2N3 1 with N-alkylindoles 2 have been studied in detail. It was found that both solvent and the amount of the azides seriously affected the product distribution. 1 reacted with equimolar of 2 in ether or 1,4-dioxane affording 2-(N-substituted-indolinylidene)fluoroalkane sulfonylimines 3 as major product; While, treatment of 2 with 2 equiv. of 1 in ethanol, an unexpected product N-substituted-2-fluoroalkanesulfonimino-3-diazo-indolines 4 were obtained in good yield. The reaction mechanism was discussed.