[ganesh2gig]

Hi all , Hope you guys are safe from COVID -19 .

I was doing a synthesis and I am not able to get the desired product , the synthesis is attached . I am getting a  gel likes substance instead of a precipitate , does somebody know why ?  somebody please help me . 

The first step is giving problem

[kriggy]

whic step is giving you problems?

[ganesh2gig]

whic step is giving you problems?

The first step , its basically a Fischer indole synthesis , but I am not getting the precipitate instead I get a lump of mass .

[rolnor]

Did you follow the recipe carefully? Slow addition can be critical.

[ganesh2gig]

I am following it verbatim , I  had done this before in  a different lab and got nice results as well , after few years I am not getting it at all . Even for conversion to hydrazide I am not getting a PPT at all . I am guessing  ammonia will be released in the reaction which is altering the course of the reaction .

[rolnor]

Then you need to check startingmaterial.

[ganesh2gig]

Tried new material does not work . 

I am at the end of rope here .

[rolnor]

Can you run TLC? Maybe you need to run chromatography.

[GabrielTojo]

I suspect that you are obtaining the desired compound, but it crystallizes with difficulty due to being contaminated with starting products. You could check it by doing an NMR of the raw mix.

Alternatively, faster and cheaper, you could check by TLC for the appearance of a new product in the reaction mixture. That new product should be the indole.

I suspect that by TLC you will see traces of starting products, in addition to the indole. Then you would only have to prolong the reaction some time more before carrying out the elaboration.