L-Proline-Catalyzed Knoevenagel Condensation: A Facile, Green Synthesis of (E)-Ethyl 2-Cyano-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)acrylates and (E)-3-(1H-Indol-3-yl)acrylonitriles

Abstract L-Proline has been utilized as a novel and ecofriendly catalyst in ethanol medium for the Knoevenagel condensation of indole-3-carboxyaldehydes and their N-methyl derivatives 1(a–e) and 4(a–e) with the active methylene compound, ethyl cyanoacetate (2) to afford substituted (E)-ethyl 2-cyano-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)acrylates 3(a–e) and 5(a–e) respectively. These products were reacted with dimethyl sulfate in the presence of PEG-600 as an efficient and green solvent to afford the corresponding N-mthylated derivatives 5(a–e). These Knoevenagel products react with 5% NaOH, yielding (E)-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)acrylonitriles 6(a–e) and 7(a–e).