A novel multi-component reaction for the synthesis of polyfunctionalized indoles and bis-indoles has been established. The reaction pathways were controlled by varying enamines with different substitution patterns to give polyfunctionalized indoles and bis-indoles selectively. The reaction proceeds at a fast speed within 15-30 min with water as the major byproduct, which makes work-up convenient.

A metal-free synthesis of bifunctionalized indole derivatives was developed through a novel TBHP/TBAI-mediated oxidative coupling of C2,C3-unsubstituted indoles with arylsulfonyl hydrazide. Under the same conditions C3-methyl substituted indoles underwent a diazotization process, affording 2-sulfonyldiazenyl-1H-indoles. The former reaction simultaneously established C-S and C-N bonds through se...

Rubrivivax benzoatilyticus JA2 and other anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria produce indole derivatives when exposed to aniline, a xenobiotic compound. Though this phenomenon has been reported previously, the role of aniline in the production of indoles is still a biochemical riddle. The present study aims at understanding the specific role of aniline (as precursor or stimulator) in the producti...

A novel and metal-free I2-mediated intramolecular C2 amidation of indoles under mild reaction conditions is developed. This methodology affords various indole fused tetracyclic compounds, such as benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]indoles by intramolecular C2 amidation of N-aryl substituted indoles. This C2 sulfonamidative cyclization also offers convenient access to indolo[2,3-b]indoles and dihydroindolo...

An efficient Pd-catalyzed decarboxylation/cyclization of aroyloxycarbamates to realize substituted indoles has been disclosed. Terminal alkynes as the coupling partners lead to site specific 2-substituted indoles through two pathways, while internal alkynes with aroyloxycarbamates can be transformed to 2,3-disubstituted indoles directly. This protocol is further demonstrated by the efficient sy...

New functionalizations of indoles via palladium-catalyzed reaction of indoles and 2-acetoxymethyl-substituted electron-deficient alkenes are reported. It was found that for N-protected indoles the reaction proceeded smoothly in the presence of 5 mol % of Pd(acac)2 and 10 mol % of PPh3 at 80 degrees C in HOAc, while for N-unprotected indoles, the reaction was carried out by using 5 mol % of Pd(d...

While a variety of protocols, including traditional enzymatic or non-enzymatic kinetic resolutions, and organicmoleculeor metal-mediated asymmetric transformations have been described, the direct asymmetric reduction of prochiral indole precursors would be one of the most straightforward ways to make chiral indolines. Thus, a few transition metal/chiral phosphine complexes, including Rh, Ru, an...

In this paper, a simple and highly efficient ruthenium-catalyzed direct C3 alkylation of indoles with various α,β-unsaturated ketones without chelation assistance has been developed. This novel C-H activation methodology exhibits a broad substrate scope such as different substituted indoles, pyrroles, and other azoles. Further synthetic applications of the alkylation products can lead to more a...

The asymmetric synthesis of N-allylic indoles is important for natural product synthesis and pharmaceutical research. The regio- and enantioselective N-allylation of indoles is a true challenge due to the favourable C3-allylation. We develop here a new strategy to the asymmetric synthesis of N-allylic indoles via rhodium-catalysed N-selective coupling of aryl hydrazines with allenes followed by...

Tandem rhodium-catalyzed oxidative allylation and annulation of acetanilides with allyl acetate to afford the corresponding indoles are described. In addition, the site-selective C2 allylation, crotylation and prenylation of indoles using allylic acetates under rhodium catalysis are reported.