A Continuous Kilogram-Scale Process for the Manufacture of 7-Ethyltryptophol

An expeditious and multikilogram-scale process for the synthesis of 7-ethyltryptophol via a continuous flow reactor from 2-ethylphenylhydrazine and 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde in higher and high yield was described. The main steps in this synthesis involved not only the generation of the hydrazone intermediate in situ but also the catalysis of the subsequent [3 + 3] sigmatropic rearrangement in the tandem loop reactor. Decomposition of the intermediate hydrazone was found to be a key factor resulting in low yield.