Tandem one-pot intra- and inter-molecular McMurry coupling for the synthesis of bisindolostilbenophanes

Treatment of 3 equiv of indole-3-aldehyde with 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris(bromomethyl)benzene and 1,3,5-tris(bromomethyl)benzene gave the tris-alkylated products, which underwent both intra- and inter-molecular McMurry coupling in one-pot with low valent titanium to give indole-based stilbenophanes.