Alkylation of the sodium salt of indole-4-carbaldehyde (I) with 2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzyl chloride (II) affords the N-alkylated indole aldehyde (III). Subsequent condensation of aldehyde (III) with 3-cyano-4-hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide (IV) in DMSO in the presence of an acidic catalyst yields the target acyl hydrazone.