The 5, 6-dihydroxytryptamine (5, 6-DHT) derivatives 4-fluoro-and 7-fluoro-5, 6-DHTs (26a, b) and 4, 7-difluoro-5, 6-DHT (26c) were synthesized from 3-fluoroanisole (1) and 1, 4-difluoro- 2, 3-dimethoxybenzene (13), respectively. Efficient methods were developed for the conversion of 1 to 4-fluor@ and 7-fluoro-5, 6-bis (benzyloxy) indoles (12a, b, respectively) and 13 to 4, 7-difluoro-5, 6-[(diphenylmethy1ene) dioxylindole (19) via reductive ...