Reissert Indole Synthesis

A. Reissert, Ber. 30, 1030 (1897).

Condensation of an o-nitrotoluene with oxalic ester, reduction to the amine, and cyclization to the indole:

W. O. Kermack et al., J. Chem. Soc. 119, 1602 (1921); P. C. Julian et al., Heterocyclic Compounds 3, 18 (1962); J. G. Cannon et al., J. Med. Chem. 24, 238 (1981).