Reactions of N-(Polychloroethylidene)arene-and - trifluoromethanesulfonamides with indoles

N-(Polychloroethylidene)arene-and -trifluoromethanesulfonamides reacted with indole and N-substituted indoles to give the corresponding N-[2,2-dichloro(or 2,2,2-trichloro)-1-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]-substituted sulfonamides. Unlike N-(2,2,2-trichloroethylidene)trifluoromethanesulfonamide, less electrophilic N-(poly-chloroethylidene)arenesulfonamides failed to react with 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1H-indole. Previously unknown N,N'-bis(2,2-dichloroethylidene)biphenyl-4,4'-disulfonamide reacted with 1-benzyl-1H-indole at both azomethine fragments. Likewise, reactions of 1,6-bis(1H-indol-1-yl)hexane and 1,4-bis(1H-indol-1-ylmethyl)-benzene with N-sulfonyl trichloroacetaldehyde imines involved both indole rings in the former.