Visible-light induced Friedel–Craft alkylation of indoles with nitroalkenes in the presence of rose bengal^a.

^aIndole 1a–1m (1 equiv. 0.3 mmol), trans-β-nitrostyrenes 2a–2j (1.5 equiv. 0.45 mmol), water (3 mL) and 10 mol% of the rose bengal under a 21 W white LED lamps at 60 °C for 12 h.

^bIsolated yield by column chromatography.