Efficient access to azaindoles and indoles

Structure: see text] An expedient, catalytic method for the synthesis of diverse azaindoles and indoles, starting from readily available and inexpensive starting materials, is described. Conditions were developed for effective reductive alkylation of electron-deficient o-chloroarylamines, substrates previously viewed as poor partners in this reaction. The derived N-alkylated o-chloroarylamines were elaborated to N-alkylazaindoles and N-alkylindoles via a novel one-pot process comprising copper-free Sonogashira alkynylation and a base-mediated indolization reaction.