Br2- or HBr-catalyzed synthesis of asymmetric 3,3-di(indolyl)indolin-2-ones

Under the catalysis of 1 mol% of Br

Rh(iii)-Catalyzed direct C-7 amination of indolines with anthranils

An effective and fascinating method has been developed for direct C-7 amination of indolines under Rh(iii) catalysis with anthranils.

Iron-catalyzed cascade cyanoalkylation/radical dearomatization of N-phenylcinnamamides: access to cyanoalkylated 1-azaspiro[4.5]decanes

An iron-catalyzed tandem cyanoalkylative dearomatization of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-cinnamamides via C(sp³)–H functionalization of nitriles with excellent regioselectivity and diastereoselectivity was developed.

Copper-catalyzed synthesis of indolyl diketones via C–H oxidation/diacylation of indoles with arylglyoxal hydrates

Copper-catalyzed synthesis of indolyl diketonesviaC–H oxidation/diacylation of indoles with arylglyoxal hydrates is described.

Synthesis of functionalised azepanes and piperidines from bicyclic halogenated aminocyclopropane derivatives

Reductive amination of aldehydes or ketones with suitable dihalogenated bicyclic aminocyclopropanes gives functionalised ring-expanded products in a single step.

Access to cyclic gem-difluoroacyl scaffolds via electrochemical and visible light photocatalytic radical tandem cyclization of heteroaryl chlorodifluoromethyl ketones

Electro- and photocatalytical synthesis of unprecedented CF₂ scaffolds.

Natural product inspired design and synthesis of β-carboline and γ-lactone based molecular hybrids

β-Carboline and γ-lactone moieties have been selected by nature as privileged scaffolds and display a wide range of pharmacological properties. Following nature, we envisaged the preparation of new β-carboline and γ-lactone based molecular hybrids incorporating both the pharmacophores. In this regard, a water-assisted In-mediated environmentally benign and easy to execute single-step tandem Barbier type allylation-lactonisation process has been devised in order to afford the targeted molecular architectures. It is anticipated that aqueous medium plays the key role in allylation as well as in the subsequent lactonisation process for the diastereo-selective synthesis of these conjugates. It is believed that water drives the reaction pathway through dual activation, it increases the electrophilic character of formyl and ester functionalities and simultaneously enhances the nucleophilic potential of the hydroxyl group to facilitate the in situ intramolecular condensation. Importantly, during this synthetic strategy no column chromatographic purification was required at any stage.

New opportunities in the stereoselective dearomatization of indoles

The regio- and stereoselective dearomatization of indoles is realized for the first time by combining readily available indolyl precursors and electron-rich allenes, namely allenamides and aryloxyallenes. Inter- as well as intramolecular condensations were realized under gold and Brønsted acid catalysis providing a range of densely functionalized indoline and indolenine cores in high yields and excellent stereochemical outcome. Chemodivergent reaction profiles (Micheal-type addition vs. [2+2]-cycloaddition) were realized by a tailored design of both reaction conditions and functionalization of the reaction partners.

The dicarbonylation of indoles via Friedel–Crafts reaction with dicarbonyl nitrile generated in situ and retro-cyanohydrination

The reaction of indole and β-carbonyl nitrile to generate dicarbonyl indoles has been developed. This process involves α-oxonation of the β-carbonyl nitrile, Friedel–Crafts reaction with indoles and retro-cyanohydrination form dicarbonyl indoles.

Exploiting the σ-phylic properties of cationic gold(i) catalysts in the ring opening reactions of aziridines with indoles

Gold(i) species catalyze the ring opening reactions of aziridines with indoles as nucleophiles for the synthesis of tryptamines and pyrroloindolines.

Metal-free 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition approach towards the regioselective synthesis of β-carboline and isoxazole based molecular hybrids

Nature has nourished β-carboline and isoxazole derivatives as privileged scaffolds and consequently they are ubiquitously found in alkaloids isolated from various sources.

In(OTf)3 catalysed an expeditious synthesis of β-carboline–imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine and imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine conjugates

β-Carboline containing alkaloids are ubiquitously present in Nature, while an imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine nucleus is incorporated in various synthetic commercial drugs and biologically previliged moieties.