Facile Iodine-Catalyzed Michael Addition of Indoles to α,α'-Bis(arylmethylene)cyclopentanones: An Efficient Synthesis of E-2-(3-Indolylphenylmethyl)-5-phenylmethylenecyclopentanones.

Iodine-catalyzed reaction of indoles with α,α'-bis(arylmethylene)cyclopentanones afforded one diastereomer of the corresponding Michael adducts, namely, E-2-(3-indolylphenylmethyl)-5-phenylmethylenecyclopentanones, in a good yield. The products form a new group of indole derivatives.