Reduction of indolo[2,3-b]quinoxalines

Reduction of indolo[2,3-b]quinoxalines with zinc in the presence of an anhydride gave N,N-diacyl trapped 6,11-dihydroindolo[2,3-b]quinoxalines in 43–92% yields. When the reduction with zinc was performed in TFA/TFAA, an unexpected ring opened product was isolated in 49% yield. The structure of this product could be identified as 1,2-dihydro-1-trifluoroacetyl-3-[(2-trifluoroacetylamino)phenyl]quinoxaline.