Furan ring opening–indole ring closure: recyclization of 2-(2-aminophenyl)furans into 2-(2-oxoalkyl)indoles

The acid-catalyzed rearrangement of 5-alkyl-2-[2-(sulfonylamino)phenyl]furans into 2-(2-oxoalkyl)indoles is described. When the N-sulfonyl group in the starting compounds was displaced by an N-acyl group, the corresponding indoles were not formed under the same reaction conditions due to the in situ indole deacylation and decomposition. The presence of an alkyl group at the C5 position of the furan ring is also crucial for the efficiency of the process. The discussed rearrangement provides a simple and efficient approach to 2-(2-oxoalkyl)indoles.