One-Pot Construction of 3,3′-Bisindolylmethanes through Bartoli Indole Synthesis

A one-pot approach to 3,3′-bisindolylmethane derivatives from nitrobenzene derivatives through the Bartoli indole synthesis was developed, in which the acid used to quench the reaction markedly affected its outcome. Quenching the reaction with concd HCl produced 3,3′-bisindolylmethane in contrast to the formation of 7-substituted indole by quenching with NH₄Cl.