Selective C-3 lithiation of 2,3-dibromo- and 2,3-diiodo-1-methylindoles

Reaction of 2,3-dibromo-1-methylindole with tert-butyllithium at −78 °C followed by treatment with tropylium ion gave 2-bromo-3-cycloheptatrienyl-1-methylindole in a moderate yield, indicating that 2-bromo-3-lithio-1-methylindole would be involved as an intermediate instead of 3-bromo-2-lithio-1-methylindole. The structure of 2-bromo-3-cycloheptatrienyl-1-methylindole was unequivocally determined by a single X-ray analysis. 2,3-Diiodo-1-methylindole also gave a 3-lithio derivative exclusively.