To a cooled solution of indole (5.85 g) in ether (50 ml) under nitrogen was added slowly a solution of methylmagnesium bromide (3M) in ether (17.5 ml). After addition, the reaction mixture was warmed up to room tem- perature and stirred for 2 h at room temperature. Then the mixture was cooled down again to 0° C., and to it was added slowly with stirring a solution of 1-naphthoylchloride (9.5 g, 50 mmol) in ether (50 ml). The resulting mixture was warmed up to room temperature and stirred for 2 h at room tempera ture followed by slow addition of saturated ammonium chloride solution (375 ml). The mixture was then stirred overnight at room temperature. A white solid was formed, filtered, washed by ether and dried under high vacuum to give 3-(1- naphthoyl)-1H-Indole 1 (12.3 g, 91%).