The first entry to 5,6-dihydroxy-3-mercaptoindole, 5-hydroxy-3-mercaptoindole and their 2-carbomethoxy derivatives by a mild thiocyanation/reduction methodology

The hitherto unknown 5,6-dihydroxy-3-mercaptoindole (4a) and its 2-carbomethoxy derivative (4b), as well as the analogous 5-hydroxy 3-mercaptoindoles, have been conveniently obtained as O,S-acetyl derivatives 3a–d by thiocyanation of the corresponding acetoxyindoles 1a–d with the NH4SCN/oxone system followed by SmI2 reduction and acetylation.