Indium trichloride catalyzed three component one-pot route to 1-hydroxymethyl-3-aminomethyl indoles

A one-pot synthesis of 1-hydroxymethyl-3-aminomethyl indoles 3 could be achieved in excellent yield by reacting indoles 1 with formaldehyde and secondary amines 2 in the presence of molecular sieves (3 Å) and catalytic amount of InCl3 (10 mol %) in 1,4-dioxane at room temperature for 3–5 h.