Rapid access to 3-acyl indoles using ethyl acetate/triflic acid couple as the acylium donor and Cu(OAc)2 catalysed aerial oxidation of indole benzoins

Esters are potential acyl donors but are relatively unexplored for that purpose. A facile installation of acyl groups at the C-3 position of indoles under triflic acid catalysed conditions with easily available and cheap esters as new acylating agents is described herein. Furthermore, heterocycles like N-protected pyrrole, furan and thiophene were also suitable substrates for similar C-2 acylation. Analogous C-3 benzoylated products of indole were obtained, albeit in lower yields, by using methyl benzoate as a benzoyl donor. The benzoylated products were synthesised in much better yields via a copper(ii) catalysed aerial oxidation of indole containing benzoins.

Room-Temperature Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Direct 2-Arylation of Indoles with Tetraarylstannanes

A palladium(II)-catalyzed direct 2-arylation of indoles by tetraarylstannanes with oxygen (balloon) as the oxidant at room temperature has been developed. Various tetraarylstannanes can be employed as aryl sources for 2-arylation of indoles in up to 89% yield, providing a practical and efficient catalytic protocol for accessing 2-arylindoles.

Pd-Catalyzed Intermolecular Dehydrogenative Heck Reactions of Five-Membered Heteroarenes

The Pd-mediated cross-coupling of (hetero)arenes with alkenes may be an effective method for the formation of a C–C bond from two C–H bonds. Discovered by Fujiwara and co-workers in 1967, this reaction led to a number of reports that we firstly highlighted in 2011 (review with references till June 2010) and for which, we retained the name “dehydrogenative Heck reaction”. The topic, especially the reactions of five-membered heteroarenes, has been the subject of intensive research over the last ten years. The present review is limited to these dehydrogenative Heck reactions published since 2010, underlining the progress of the procedures.

Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Directed C-H Dienylation of Anilides with Allenes Leads to Highly Conjugated Systems

Allenes are unique coupling partners in transition-metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization leading to a variety of products via alkenylation, allenylation, allylation, and annulation reactions. The outcome is governed by both the reactivity of the allene and the formation and stability of the organometallic intermediate. An efficient Rh(III)-catalyzed, weakly coordinating group-directed dienylation of electronically unbiased allenes is developed using an N-acyl amino acid as a ligand. Further elaboration of the dienylated products to construct polycyclic compounds is also described.

Non-redox metal ion promoted oxidative coupling of indoles with olefins by the palladium(ii) acetate catalyst through dioxygen activation: experimental results with DFT calculations

Non-redox metal ions can sharply improve the Pd(ii)-catalyzed oxidative coupling of indoles with acrylates, leading to one-step synthesis of bis(indolyl)methane derivatives.

A metal free domino synthesis of 3-aroylindoles via two sp³ C-H activation

A metal free synthesis of 3-aroylindole involving two sp(3) C-H activation has been achieved starting from o-alkynyl-N,N-dialkylamines using catalyst TBAI and oxidant TBHP.

Rhodium enalcarbenoids: direct synthesis of indoles by rhodium(II)-catalyzed [4+2] benzannulation of pyrroles

Disclosed herein is the design of an unprecedented electrophilic rhodium enalcarbenoid which results from rhodium(II)-catalyzed decomposition of a new class of enaldiazo compounds. The synthetic utility of these enalcarbenoids has been successfully demonstrated in the first transition-metal-catalyzed [4+2] benzannulation of pyrroles, thus leading to substituted indoles. The new benzannulation has been applied to the efficient synthesis of the natural product leiocarpone as well as a potent adipocyte fatty-acid binding protein inhibitor.