Oximation of indoles having a methoxycarbonylamino group on C 5 and an acyl group on C 3 with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in the presence of pyridine gave the corresponding oximes. The reduction of the 3-C=O group with sodium tetrahydridoborate in the presence of sodium hydroxide was accompanied by removal of the methoxycarbonyl group at the pyrrole nitrogen atom with formation of racemic alcohols. 1,4-Addition of 1-(pyridin-3-yl)butane-1,3-dione to dimethyl 1,4-benzoquinone diimine N,N′-dicarboxylate in dioxane in the presence of sodium methoxide, followed by heating in boiling 22% hydrochloric acid, afforded methyl 2-methyl-5-(methoxycarbonylamino)-3-(pyridin-3-ylcarbonyl)-1H-indole-1-carboxylate. 3-(Dimethylamino)-1-(4-methyl-1,2,5-oxadiazol-3-yl)prop-2-en-1-one reacted with N,N′-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-and N,N′-bis(phenylsulfonyl)-1,4-benzoquinone diimines in methylene chloride and acetic acid, respectively, in the presence of BF 3 · Et 2 O to produce indoles having a 1,2,5-oxadiazolylcarbonyl group on C 3 .