Reactions of nitrilium salts with indole and pyrrole and their derivatives in the synthesis of imines, ketones and secondary amines

Reactions of N-methyl- and N-ethyl-nitrilium salts with indole and pyrrole and their derivatives yield imines or imine salts in good yields. The related imines are obtained from the salts after careful basi- fication and hydrolysis of the imine salts or the imines by heating with aqueous base give the related ketones in good yields. Alternatively, the imine salts can be reduced using sodium borohydride in methanol to give the related secondary amines.