Reaction of indoles with aromatic fluoromethyl ketones: An efficient synthesis of trifluoromethyl-indolyl-phenylethanols using K2CO3/nBu4PBr in water

A new, mild and efficient protocol for the synthesis of trifluoromethyl-indolyl-phenylethanols by the reaction of indoles with a variety of aromatic fluoromethyl ketones in the presence of K2CO3 (15 mol%) and nBu4PBr (15 mol%) in water. The desired products were obtained in good to excellent yields without requiring the column chromatography purification. The reusability of the catalytic system and large-scale synthesis of indolyl-phenylethanols, which would further transform into biological active indole-derived compounds, are further advantages of this protocol.