3-Methylindol-2-yl methyl ketone reacted with phosphoryl chloride in dimethylformamide to give 3-chloro-3 (3-methylindol-2-yl), propenal (4). 2-Carbomethoxy-and 2-carbethoxy-1- chloro-9H-pyrrolo [1, 2-a] indol-9-ylidene acetaldehyde (10a and b) were formed by reaction with the same reagent of 3 (3-methylindol-2-yl) propenoate (7) and 3 (3-methylindol-2-yl)-3- oxopropanoate (2) respectively. In the latter case, 2-carbethoxy-1-chloro-3-dimethylamino ...