Synthesis of 3-substituted 3H-indol-3-ols by the reaction of 2-isocyanophenyl ketones with Grignard reagents

A facile method for the synthesis of 3-substituted 3H-indol-3-ols has been developed. Thus, 2-isocyanophenyl ketones are allowed to react with various Grignard reagents to give the corresponding desired indolol derivatives in generally fair to good yields. The formation of 3-aryl-2,3-dimethylindolin-3-ols by the reaction of 2-isocyanobenzophenones with 2 M amounts of methylmagnesium bromide is also reported.