3-Aminoindoles are unique intermediates in the substituted indole synthesis, and have been produced by hydrolysis of the corresponding isocyanates, 5 by reduction of the salts of isonitrosoindoles obtained from indoles, 6 or by the Fischer cyclization of the phenylhydrazines of ω-(N-acylamino)acetophenones. 7 The 3-aminoindole formation by cyclization under basic conditions also remains challenging. 8 In connection with these studies, we envisioned that the ...