Synthesis of 2-(1 H -Indol-2-yl)acetamides via Brønsted Acid-Assisted Cyclization Cascade.

An efficient and straightforward Brønsted-acid mediated cascade process was developed, involving cyclization of readily available β-ketonitriles into 2-aminofurans, and their subsequent recyclization into 2-(1 H -indol-2-yl)acetamides is developed. This synthetic route opens a new avenue for an expeditious assembly of various isotryptamine derivatives for medicinal chemistry.