Reaction of indoles with aromatic fluoromethyl ketones: an efficient synthesis of trifluoromethyl(indolyl)phenylmethanols using K(2)CO(3)/n-Bu(4)PBr in water

A new, mild and efficient protocol for the synthesis of trifluoromethyl(indolyl)phenylmethanols by the reaction of indoles with a variety of aromatic fluoromethyl ketones in the presence of K(2)CO(3) (15 mol %) and n-Bu(4)PBr (15 mol %) in water. The desired products were obtained in good to excellent yields without requiring a column chromatographic purification. The reusability of the catalytic system and large-scale synthesis of indolyl(phenyl)methanols, which would further transform into biological active indole-derived compounds, are further advantages of this protocol.