To a stirred solution of lithium aluminum hydride (LAH, 0.67 g, 3.0 eq.) dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF, 10 mL) was slowly added a THF (10 mL) solution of ethyl 2-(5-bromo-1H-indol-1-yl)acetate (Intermediate 28a, 1.7 g, 6.0 mmol) at 0 °C under nitrogen protection. The reaction mixture was continued to be stirred for 2 h at room temperature. Upon completion of the reaction, the reaction was carefully quenched with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed sequentially with water and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate (Na2SO4). The organic layer was concentrated under reduced pressure to give 2-(5-bromo-1H-indol-1-yl)ethanol (0.75 g, yield 51.66%) as a yellow gel.
