The reactivity of 2-vinylindoles with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate

Abstract The overall rates of reaction of 1-substltuted-1- (1-methyl-2-indolyl)ethenes with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate are considerably lower than those of the corresponding 2-vinyl- pyrroles. Steric interaction between the N-methyl group on the indole ring and the 1-substituent on the ethenyl group prevents the diene system adopting a coplanar cisoid configuration and, thereby, inhibits the π4 + π2 cycloaddition reaction of the system with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate. Under such conditions, the indolylethene preferentially undergoes a Michael addition reaction at the 3-position. The π4 + π2 cycloaddition reaction is promoted at elevated temperatures. No evidence was found for a Co…