Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of 2,3-Disubstituted Benzothiophenes via the Annulation of Aryl Sulfides with Alkynes

A new method has been developed for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted benzothiophenes involving the palladium-catalyzed annulation of aryl sulfides with alkynes. This convergent approach exhibited good functional group tolerance, providing rapid access to a diverse array of derivatives from simple, readily available starting materials. This protocol can also be used to synthesize 2-silyl-substituted benzothiophenes, which can be used as versatile platforms for the synthesis of 2,3-unsymmetrically substituted benzothiophenes.

Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed Benzannulation of Heteroaryl Propargylic Esters: Synthesis of Indoles and Related Heterocycles

A de novo synthesis of a benzene ring allows for the preparation of a diverse range of heterocycles including indoles, benzofurans, benzothiophenes, carbazoles, and dibenzofurans from simple heteroaryl propargylic esters using a unified carbonylative benzannulation strategy. Multiple substituents can be easily introduced to the C4-C7 positions of indoles and related heterocycles.

Catalytic Synthesis of Substituted Indoles and Quinolines from the Dehydrative C-H Coupling of Arylamines with 1,2- and 1,3-Diols

The cationic ruthenium-hydride complex catalyzes dehydrative C-H coupling reaction of arylamines with 1,2-diols to form the indole products. The analogous coupling of arylamines with 1,3-diols afforded the substituted quinolines. The catalytic method directly forms these coupling products in a highly regioselective manner without generating any toxic byproducts.

Catalytic α-Arylation of Imines Leading to N-Unprotected Indoles and Azaindoles

A palladium N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed methodology for the synthesis of substituted, N-unprotected indoles and azaindoles is reported. The protocol permits access to various, highly substituted members of these classes of compounds. Although two possible reaction pathways (deprotonative and Heck-like) can be proposed, control experiments, supported by computational studies, point toward a deprotonative mechanism being operative.

Reactivity of alkynylindole-2-carboxamides in [Pd]-catalysed C–H activation and phase transfer catalysis: formation of pyrrolo-diindolones vs. β-carbolinones

[Pd]-Catalysed reaction of 3-alkynylindole-2-carboxamidesviaC–H activation leads to pyrrolodiindolones; in contrast, under phase-transfer catalysis, the same precursors afford β-carbolinones.

Copper-catalyzed tandem arylation–cyclization of 2-alkynylaryl isothiocyanates with diaryliodonium salts: an efficient synthesis of thiochromeno[2,3-b]indoles

A Cu-catalyzed arylation–cyclization approach is developed for the synthesis of thiochromeno[2,3-b]indoles through the S-arylation, 5-endo-trig cyclization, and Friedel–Crafts-type cyclization sequence.

Fei-Phos ligand-controlled asymmetric palladium-catalyzed allylic substitutions with structurally diverse nucleophiles: scope and limitations

The asymmetric palladium-catalysed alkylation of structurally diverse nucleophiles, including alcohols, activated methylene compounds, indoles, and aromatic amines, led to the formation of corresponding products in good yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).

Recent progress towards gold-catalyzed synthesis of N-containing tricyclic compounds based on ynamides

The recent advances in the gold-catalyzed construction of N-containing tricycles based on ynamides are reviewed by highlighting their specificity and applicability, and the mechanistic rationale.

Palladium catalyzed domino reaction of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles via double C–H functionalization: one-pot synthesis of triazolo[1,5-f]phenanthridines

A palladium catalyzed domino reaction of 1,4-disubstituted triazoles involving homo- and heterocondensation is presented. The approach provides a simple, straight forward and a facile route to access triazolo[1,5-f]phenanthridines in high yields.

The cooperative FeCl3/DDQ system for the regioselective synthesis of 3-arylindoles from β-monosubstituted 2-alkenylanilines

A highly regioselective synthesis of 3-arylindoles by using the cooperative FeCl₃/DDQ system has been developed.

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.

Brønsted acid cocatalysis in photocatalytic intramolecular coupling of tertiary amines: efficient synthesis of 2-arylindols

We report herein a highly efficient intramolecular coupling reaction of tertiary amines and ketones (α,β-unsaturated ketones) by using a Brønsted acid as a cocatalyst, affording 2-arylindols in good to excellent yields (up to 92%) under visible light irradiation at room temperature.

Divergent Reactivity of Rhodium(I) Carbenes Derived from Indole Annulations

Rhodium(I) carbenes were generated from propargylic alcohol derivatives as the result of a dehydrative indole annulation. Depending on the choice of the electron-withdrawing group on the aniline nitrogen nucleophile, either a cyclopropanation product or dimerization product was obtained chemoselectively. Intramolecular hydroamidation occurred for the same type of propargylic alcohol derivatives when other transition-metal catalysts were employed.

Copper-catalyzed tandem annulation/arylation for the synthesis of diindolylmethanes from propargylic alcohols

Various highly substituted 2,3'-diindolylmethane heterocycles were prepared from propargylic alcohols and indole nucleophiles via a transition metal-catalyzed tandem indole annulation/arylation reaction for the first time. Among the metal catalysts we examined, the most economical copper(I) catalyst provided the highest efficiency. The indole nucleophiles could also be replaced by other electron-rich arenes or alcohols.

Synthesis of 3-Iminoindol-2-amines and Cyclic Enaminones via Palladium-Catalyzed Isocyanide Insertion-Cyclization

A palladium-catalyzed isocyanide insertion-cyclization using low-cost and readily accessible 2-haloanilines, 2-iodophenylethanones, and isocyanides for efficient synthesis of 3-iminoindol-2-amine and cyclic enaminone derivatives has been developed. The method features low-cost and readily accessible starting materials, reliable scalability, and bond-forming efficiency as well as simple one-pot operation, which makes this strategy highly attractive. A reasonable mechanism for forming 3-iminoindol-2-amine involved double isocyanide insertion/cyclization process is proposed.

Applications of Bartoli indole synthesis

In 1989, the reaction of vinyl magnesium halides with ortho-substituted nitroarenes leading to indoles was discovered. This reaction is now frequently reported as the "Bartoli reaction" or the "Bartoli indole synthesis" (BIS). It has rapidly become the shortest and most flexible route to 7-substituted indoles, because the classical indole syntheses generally fail in their preparation. The flexibility of the Bartoli reaction is great as it can be extended to heteroaromatic nitro derivatives and can be run on solid support. This review will focus on the use of the Bartoli indole synthesis as the key step in preparations of complex indoles, which appeared in the literature in the last few years.