One-Pot Synthesis of Bis(indolyl)methanes: Ruthenium-Catalyzed Reaction of Benzylic Alcoholes and Indoles

RuCl3·3H2O was found to be an effective catalyst for one-pot reactions of benzylic alcoholes with indoles affording the corresponding bis(indolyl)methanes under air atmosphere at room temperature in moderate to excellent yields. It is noteworthy that the RuCl3·3H2O system displayed a preference for the primary versus secondary benzylic group of a benzylic diol in intramolecular competition experiments.