AlCl-mediated ring-opening reactions of indoline-2-thiones with acyl cyclopropanes, bi-cyclopropanes and spirocyclic cyclopropanes.

AlCl-mediated nucleophilic ring-opening reactions of indoline-2-thiones with various acyl cyclopropanes, bi-cyclopropanes and spirocyclic cyclopropanes were investigated. A series of ketones functionalized with indolylthio groups were synthesized in yields ranging from moderate to good. Moreover, chemical transformations of 4-indolylthio butan-1-ones to dihydro-2-thiepino[2,3-]indoles and sulfone were carried out to further expand both synthetic utility and structural complexity.