Study on the reactions of fluoroalkanesulfonyl azides with N-alkylindoles

The reactions of fluoroalkanesulfonyl azides RfSO2N3 1 with N-alkylindoles 2 have been studied in detail. It was found that both solvent and the amount of the azides seriously affected the product distribution. 1 reacted with an equimolar amount of 2 in ether or 1,4-dioxane affording 2-(N-substituted-indolinylidene)fluoroalkane sulfonylimines 3 as major product; While, the treatment of 2 with two equivalent of 1 in ethanol afforded N-substituted-2-fluoroalkanesulfonimino-3-diazo-indolines 4 as an unexpected product in good yields. The reaction mechanism was discussed.