Domino reaction of arylamine, methyl propiolate, aromatic aldehyde, and indole for facile synthesis of functionalized indol-3-yl acrylates

In the presence of FeCl3 as catalyst the one-pot domino reactions of arylamines, methyl propiolate, aromatic aldehydes, and indole in ethanol at room temperature proceeded smoothly to give methyl 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)arylmethyl-3-arylamino)acrylates in good yields. 1H NMR spectra and single crystal structures indicated that (Z)-acrylates were stereoselectively formed in the reactions.