An FeCl3-catalyzed highly C3-selective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with alcohols

The FeCl₃-catalyzed C3-selective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles using allylic, benzylic and propargylic alcohols has been developed. The reaction was performed in the presence of a catalytic amount of inexpensive anhydrous FeCl₃ (10 mol %) in nitromethane under mild conditions. This method can also be used for the alkylation of pyrrole.     

A simple and efficient FeCl3-catalyzed direct alkylation of active methylene compounds with benzylic and allylic alcohols under mild conditions

A highly efficient FeCl₃-catalyzed alkylation of various active methylene compounds with various benzylic or allylic alcohols under mild conditions has been developed. The reaction was carried out in the presence of a catalytic amount of anhydrous FeCl₃ (10 mol %) under reflux in methylene chloride. High to excellent yields were obtained.     

First example of FeCl3-catalyzed alkylation of indoles with pinenes

Indoles undergo smooth alkylation with α- and β-pinenes in the presence of 20 mol % of anhydrous FeCl₃ under mild reaction conditions to produce a wide range of the corresponding 3-alkylated indoles in excellent yields with high trans-selectivity. This is the first example of alkylation of indoles with mono-terpenes.     

Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed alkylation of indoles with propargyl alcohols: an expeditious synthesis of 3-substituted indoles

Indoles undergo smooth alkylation with propargylic alcohols in the presence of 10 mol % of scandium triflate under mild conditions to produce 3-propargylated indoles in excellent yields with high selectivity.     

FeCl3-catalyzed alkylation of indoles with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds: an expedient synthesis of 3-substituted indoles

Indoles undergo smooth alkylation at the 3-position with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in the presence of 20 mol % of FeCl₃ under mild reaction conditions to produce a wide range of 3-substituted indoles in excellent yields and with high E-selectivity.     

Cs2CO3-catalyzed alkylation of indoles with trifluoromethyl ketones

A Cs₂CO₃-catalyzed alkylation reaction of indoles with trifluoromethyl ketones was presented. Both alicyclic and aromatic trifluoromethyl ketones as well as various substituted indoles are compatible with the methodology. Good to excellent yields of the corresponding trifluoromethyl substituted tertiary alcohols 2,2,2-tritrifluoro-1-(1H-indol-3-yl)-ethan-1-ols were acquired as the sole products.     

Highly Efficient InBr3 Catalyzed Michael Addition of Indoles to α, β-Unsaturated Esters

A highly efficient synthetic strategy toward Michael addition of indoles to α,β‐unsaturated esters has been developed using Lewis acid InBr₃ as catalyst. The reactions generated 3‐substituted indoles in high yields with excellent regio‐selectivity in the presence of catalytic amount of InBr₃ under mild reaction conditions. The method is simple, efficient and practical.     

An Al(OTf)3-catalyzed environmentally benign process for the propargylation of indoles

Al(OTf)₃ catalyzed the alkylation of indoles using secondary/tertiary propargylic alcohols to produce 3-propargylated indoles in excellent yields with high selectivity. The reactions were performed in air with commercial grade solvents, and water was the only side product of the process. The catalyst was recovered after completion of the reaction and re-used with minimum loss of activity over three cycles.     

Preparation of 3-arylmethylindoles as selective COX-2 inhibitors

The 3-arylmethylation of indoles using TMSOTf/Et₃SiH with a wide variety of substituted benzaldehydes has been accomplished. Under these mild Lewis acid mediated reductive conditions, it was demonstrated that indoles bearing both 6-MeSO₂ and 2-methyl substituents could be 3-arylmethylated in good to excellent yields to afford the corresponding 3-arylmethyl indoles, effective as selective COX-2 inhibitors. In addition, the viability of this method for the reductive alkylation of indoles by ketones was demonstrated and shown to be C-3 regioselective. For indoles bearing both a 6-MeSO₂ and 2-cyano substituent where this indole reductive alkylation methodology was unsuccessful, an unprecedented Pd(0) mediated arylorganozinc coupling with the requisite substituted 3-methylcarbonatomethylindole proved successful in affording the desired 2-cyano-6-MeSO₂-3-arylmethylindoles effective as selective COX-2 inhibitors.     

Chemo- and diastereoselective Bi(OTf)3-catalyzed benzylation of silyl nucleophiles

The direct alkylation of silyl enol ethers with para-methoxybenzylic alcohols or their corresponding acetates was efficiently catalyzed by Bi(OTf)₃ in CH₃NO₂ as the solvent. The reaction provided the α-benzylated carbonyl compounds in high yields after short reaction times using 1-2.5 mol % of the catalyst. Benzylic acetates other than para-methoxybenzylic acetates also underwent the reaction. High facial diastereoselectivities were observed with acetates derived from chiral α-branched para-methoxybenzylic alcohols. In addition, a catalytic reduction with Et₃SiH as the reducing agent is reported.     

An efficient FeCl3-catalyzed amidation reaction of secondary benzylic and allylic alcohols with carboxamides or p-toluenesulfonamide

A simple, inexpensive, environmentally friendly and high yielding amidation reaction of benzylic and allylic alcohols with primary amides using a catalytic amount of FeCl₃ (5 mol %) is described. Direct substitution of various amides such as benzamide, sulfonamide, acetamide and acrylamide is reported, and this method also works on a large scale in high yield.     

InBr3-catalyzed reduction of ketones with a hydrosilane: deoxygenation of aromatic ketones and selective synthesis of secondary alcohols and symmetrical ethers from aliphatic ketones

An InBr₃-Et₃SiH reducing system was developed to selectively convert aliphatic ketones to a variety of secondary alcohols in moderate to good yields. An initial mixing of InBr₃ and PhSiH₃ was followed by the addition of aliphatic ketones and a solvent to afford the symmetrical ether derivatives.     

InBr3/Cu(OTf)2-catalyzed C-alkylation of pyrroles and indoles with α-diazocarbonyl compounds

Pyrroles and indoles react smoothly with α-diazocarbonyl compounds in the presence of 10 mol% of InBr₃ under mild conditions to afford the corresponding 2- and 3-alkyl pyrrole and 3-alkyl indole derivatives, respectively, in good yields with high selectivity.     

Fe(II)-catalyzed N-alkylation of sulfonamides with benzylic alcohols

The FeCl₂/K₂CO₃ catalyst system was developed successfully for the N-alkylation of sulfonamides with benzylic alcohols via borrowing hydrogen method. XPS analysis suggested a possible catalyst cycle between Fe(II) and Fe(0). Under the optimized condition, the scope of the protocol was demonstrated in 21 different alkylation reactions. High yields, in general >90%, are achieved in most cases.     

Silica gel supported InBr3 and InCl3: new catalysts for the facile and rapid oxidation of 2′-hydroxychalcones and flavanones to their corresponding flavones under solvent free conditions

Silica gel supported InBr₃ or InCl₃ (15-20 mol %) were explored as a new solid-support catalysts for the facile and efficient oxidation, under solvent free conditions, of 2′-hydroxychalcones and flavanones to yield the corresponding flavones in >80% yield. The catalysts are easily prepared, stable, and efficient under mild reaction conditions.     

An efficient synthesis of silyl ethers of primary alcohols, secondary alcohols, phenols and oximes with a hydrosilane using InBr3 as a catalyst

An efficient method for the preparation of silyl ethers by InBr₃ catalyzed silylation of primary alcohols, secondary alcohols, phenols and oxime with a hydrosilane is described.     

Osmium (VI) catalyzed chemoselective oxidation of allylic and benzylic alcohols

A mild and highly chemoselective approach to oxidation of allylic, electron rich/deficient benzylic, and heterocyclic alcohols employing catalytic quantities of K₂[OsO₂(OH)₄] (3 mol %) and chloramine-T (50 mol %) is described. The protocol offers short reaction times (25 min–2 h), controlled oxidation, and tolerance to a variety of substrates. A systematic mechanistic study based on the LC-ESI-MS/MS reveals the presence of imidotriooxoosmium species which further reacts with alcohol to give the oxidized product.     

Highly Efficient Synthesis of Unsymmetrical 3,3′‐Bis(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)methanes in Water

A simple and practical approach for the preparation of unsymmetric bis(indolyl)methanes (BIMs) was realized by Lewis acid InBr₃‐catalyzed Friedel‐Crafts reaction of indoles with 3‐indolyl‐substituted phthalides in water.     

Direct palladium-catalyzed C-3 alkynylation of indoles

The direct palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of indoles with alkynyl bromides was described in this paper. In the presence of catalytic amount of PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ and 2.0 equiv. NaOAc, the coupling reaction of indoles with alkynyl bromides proceeded smoothly at 50 °C to give the corresponding 3-alkynylindoles with high regioselectivity in good to excellent yields.     

InBr3-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of 2-alkynylanilines leading to polysubstituted indole and its application to one-pot synthesis of an amino acid precursor

We describe InBr₃-catalyzed cyclization of 2-alkynylaniline derivatives having a variety of functional groups producing polysubstituted indoles. This methodology could be applied to the one-pot synthesis of an amino acid precursor by the addition of a catalytic amount of the indium salt, an imine, and TMSCl.