Synthesis of 3‐Methylthioindolesvia Intramolecular Cyclization of 2‐Alkynylanilines Mediated by DMSO/DMSO‐d6 and SOCl2.

Main observation and conclusion: The intramolecular cyclization of 2‐alkynylanilines mediated by DMSO/SOCl2 was found to afford biologically interesting 3‐methylthioindoles, which are rarely obtained by the exiting methods. DMSO could also be replaced with its deuterated counterpart, enabling the method applicable to the construction of indole skeleton bearing a SCD3 moiety at its 3‐position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]