Potassium carbonate as a base for the N-alkylation of indole and pyrrole in ionic liquids

The methodology for the N-alkylation of indole and pyrrole using potassium carbonate in 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [bmim][BF4] as the sustainable reaction media with acetonitrile as the cosolvent is described herein. Our approach provides good yields with alkyl halides as well as sulfonates as the electrophiles. Cesium carbonate was also found to be a consistent base in the N-alkylation. The proposed methodology is simple and mild with easy workup.