A mild, efficient and improved protocol for the synthesis of novel indolyl crown ethers, di(indolyl)pyrazolyl methanes and 3-alkylated indoles using H4[Si(W3O10)3]

Efficient electrophilic substitution reactions of indoles with various aldehydes proceed smoothly in acetonitrile using heteropoly acid (H4[Si(W3O10)3]) to afford the corresponding new indolyl crown ethers and di(indolyl)pyrazolyl methanes. H4[Si(W3O10)3] is also found to catalyze the Michael addition of indoles to α,β-unsaturated compounds for the synthesis of 3-alkylated indoles.