Palladium-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of N-aryl enamines: From anilines to indoles

Wuertz S, Rakshit S, Neumann JJ, Droege T, Glorius F

Abstract

The special advantage of the title reaction to form substituted indoles 2 lies within the broad scope of the transformation: A multitude of N-aryl enaminones 1 can be prepared readily in one step from commercially available anilines. Furthermore, anilines can be converted directly in a one-pot process into the indole products. R1=H, Me, OMe, Cl, F, carbonyl functionality, CN, fused aryl; R2=alkyl, aryl; R3=alkyl, Oalkyl.