The dimethylaminomethyl group has proven to be a useful nitrogen protecting group for indoles1 as well as other heterocycles.2 It is able to direct metallation at C-2 of the indole ring, and can be removed using sodium borohydride,1b or in certain cases, with sodium methoxide.1a Preparation of 1-(N,N-dimethylamino)methylindole ("isogramine") 2a (Scheme 1) is typically accomplished by reaction of indole with dimethylamine and formaldehyde.3 Though this method ...
[Hamid, M. Haniti S. A.; Allen, C. Liana; Lamb, Gareth W.; Maxwell, Aoife C.; Maytum, Hannah C.; et al. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2009 , vol. 131, p. 1766 - 1774]