One-step synthesis of 4-alkyl-3-aryl-2,6-dicyanoanilines and their use in the synthesis of highly functionalized 2,3,5,6,7- and 2,3,4,5,7-substituted indoles

A three-component, one-step method for the synthesis of 4-alkyl-3-aryl-2,6-dicyanoanilines involving reaction of alkyl aldehyde, malononitrile and aryl aldehyde in presence of morpholine is reported. Highly functionalized 2,3,5,6,7- and 2,3,4,5,7-substituted indoles were prepared from these dicyanoanilines by reaction with ethyl bromoacetate. These substituted dicyanoanilines and indoles have a potential to be converted into various other compounds taking advantage of various functional groups present in these molecules.