L-Proline catalyzed domino Michael addition of N-substituted anilines

Abstract Here we report l -proline catalyzed 3-component reaction of indoles, aldehydes and N -substituted anilines in water as solvent at room temperature for the synthesis of 3-(α,α-diarylmethyl)indoles. The reaction is in fact a Michael addition of N -substituted anilines to alkylideneindolenines. The reaction is very clean, high yielding and having broad substrate scope. A tentative mechanism is proposed.