PtCl2-catalyzed reactions of o-alkynylanilines with ethyl propiolate and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate

The PtCl₂-catalyzed reactions between indoles and ethyl propiolate gave rise to mono and double addition products. The composition of the products was largely influenced by the substituents on the indoles as well as the amount of ethyl propiolate used. o-Alkynylanilines reacted with ethyl propiolate and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate under the catalysis of PtCl₂ to generate the corresponding 2,3-disubstituted indoles. The reaction proceeded by following a sequential cyclization/intermolecular addition pathway.     

Absorption spectra of substituted indoles in stretched polyethylene films

The stretched film technique has been used to resolve the two overlapping ¹L_a and ¹L_b transitions in the absorption spectra of some substituted indoles. The substituent effects on the absorption spectrum of indole, N-ethyl indole, 3-methyl indole and 7-methyl indole are discussed. The directions of the transition moments of these indoles with respect to the long molecular axis have been determined and the differences were attributed to the changes in the molecular geometry on excitation. The vibronic structure in the absorption spectra of these indoles is also considered.     

3-(o-Trifluoroacetamidoaryl)-1-propargylic esters: common intermediates for the palladium-catalyzed synthesis of 2-aminomethyl-, 2-vinylic, and 2-alkylindoles

3-(o-Trifluoroacetamidoaryl)-1-propargylic esters have been used as common synthetic intermediates for the preparation of a variety of 3-unsubstituted 2-substituted indoles. Treating ethyl 3-(o-trifluoroacetamidoaryl)-1-propargylic carbonates unsubstituted or containing an aryl substituent at the propargylic carbon with piperazines and Pd(PPh₃)₄ in THF at 80 °C affords 2-(piperazin-1-ylmethyl)indoles in excellent yields. Good to excellent yields of 2-aminomethylindoles are also obtained with other secondary amines. Ethyl 3-(o-trifluoroacetamidoaryl)-1-propargylic carbonates bearing an alkyl substituent at the propargylic carbon and ethyl 3-(o-trifluoroacetamidoaryl)-1-propargylic acetates disubstituted at the propargylic carbon give 2-vinylic indoles with the Pd(OAc)₂/PPh₃ combination and Et₃N in THF at 80 °C. Formation of 2-vinylic indoles is quite stereoselective, generating trans vinylic derivatives, at least with the substrates that we have investigated. In the presence of formic acid, Et₃N, and Pd(PPh₃)₄ in MeCN at 80 °C, ethyl 3-(o-trifluoroacetamidoaryl)-1-propargylic carbonates afford 2-alkylindoles in good to excellent yields.     

First example of the C-alkylation of indoles with Baylis-Hillman acetates

Baylis-Hillman acetates undergo S_N2′ allylic substitution with indoles in the presence of 20 mol % of indium tribromide under mild conditions to afford a new class of substituted indoles in high yields with (E)-stereoselectivity. The stereochemistry of the products was assigned by various NMR experiments.     

Regioselective N- and C2-electrophilic substitution of 3-substituted indoles

The reaction of 3-substituted indoles with 2-cyclohexenone under Lewis acid mediated conditions with Bi(NO₃)₃·5H₂O has been investigated. We have demonstrated that electrophilic substitution of 3-substituted indoles with 2-cyclohexenone will readily occur at the nitrogen. Furthermore, the extent of regioselectivity is dependent on reaction solvent and the C3-substituent. Excellent conversion is obtained with good to excellent isolated yields of N- and C2-adducts. In general, more polar, aprotic solvents (CH₃CN) give greater N-selectivity whereas with polar protic solvents (CH₃OH) an increase in the C2-adduct is observed.     

N-Bromosuccinimide mediated synthesis of triazatruxenes from indoles

A new synthetic method for triazatruxenes from indoles is developed using N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) as a user-friendly reagent. Major reaction parameters including the amount of NBS, substrate concentration, temperature, addition rate and addition method are investigated. Additional experiments are also conducted in order to gain access toward the reaction mechanism. Compared to the use of Br₂ in the conventional method, this reaction requires less reaction time, provides better yields, and displays excellent reproducibility. The reaction can be conveniently performed at 10 g scale and it is also applicable to several substituted indoles, benzoindole, and N-alkyl indoles.     

Regioselective electrophilic trifluoromethylation of indolines, oxindoles and indoles in superacid

Treatment of indolines and N-acylindoles with HF/SbF₅/CCl₄ yields 6-trifluoro derivatives (indole numbering) whereas indoles and oxindoles give the 5-trifluoro derivatives in good yield.     

Base-promoted three-component cascade approach to unsymmetrical bis(indolyl)methanes

Here we report a base-catalyzed reaction of two different indoles with aldehydes under heating to produce unsymmetrical bis(indolyl)methanes (BIMs), in which one of the indole ring must be N-substituted. Mixture of EtOH-H₂O is used as solvent. The reaction did not give symmetrical BIMs of N-substituted indoles or N–H indoles. However, traces of latter were formed in few cases, especially when electron-rich aldehydes were used. Diversely substituted indoles and aldehydes were used for the reaction. The reaction proceeds via 3-indolylalcohol, which we confirmed through isolation. The method also gives good yield on multigram scale reaction.     

Synthesis of N-acetyl-3,3a,4,8b- and -1,3a,4,8b-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indoles from N- and 2-(cyclopent-2-en-1-yl)anilines

Reactions of 2-bromo-N-(cyclopent-2-en-1-yl)-4-methylaniline and N-(cyclopent-2-en-1-yl)-2-iodo-4,6-dimethylaniline with acetyl bromide in the presence of potassium carbonate gave mixtures of syn and anti atropisomers of the corresponding N-acetyl derivatives at ratios of 1: 1 and 3: 2 respectively. Heating of these mixtures in toluene in the presence of Pd(OAc)₂, PPh₃, Et₃N, and K₂CO₃ (KOAc) afforded mixtures of isomeric N-acetyl-7-methyl-3,3a,4,8b- and -1,3a,4,8b-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indoles at a ratio of 3: 1 or N-acetyl-5,7-dimethyl-3,3a,4,8b- and -1,3a,4,8b-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indoles at a ratio of 2: 3. N-Acetyl-3,3a,4,8b-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indole was found to undergo thermal isomerization into N-acetyl-1,3a,4,8btetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indole.     

The use of anhydrous CeCl3 as a catalyst for the synthesis of 3-sulfenyl indoles

Anhydrous CeCl₃ was successfully used as a catalyst for the synthesis of several 3-sulfenyl indoles in good to excellent yields through the reaction of indole with N-(alkylthio) and N-(arylthio)phthalimides in DMF.     

Sequential alkylation/cyclization/isomerization of ethyl 3-(o-trifluoroacetamidoaryl)-1-propargylic esters: a new route to 2-acyl- and 2-ethoxycarbonyl-3-alkenyl indoles

The reaction of ethyl 3-(o-trifluoroacetamidoaryl)-1-propargylic esters with ethyl iodoacetate or α-bromoacetophenone in the presence of K₂CO₃ in DMSO provides a new simple access to 2-acyl- and 2-ethoxycarbonyl-3-alkenyl indoles.     

Unexpected products from the Fp2-catalyzed reductive cyclization of nitroaromatics bearing pendant unsaturation

A representative o-nitroenone (Z=O) was cyclized by reduction with CO and [CpFe(CO)₂]₂ (Fp₂) as the catalyst to give the corresponding 4-quinolone. In contrast, Baylis-Hillman adducts derived from o-nitrobenzaldehydes were cyclized to N-formylindolines and indoles under the same conditions.     

A highly active catalyst for the reductive cyclization of ortho-nitrostyrenes under mild conditions

A mild and efficient method for the palladium-catalyzed reductive cyclization of ortho-nitrostyrenes to afford indoles is reported. Treatment of ortho-nitrostyrenes with 0.1 mol% palladium (II) trifluoroacetate [Pd(TFA)₂] and 0.7 mol% 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (tm-phen) in DMF at 15 psig CO and 80 °C afforded indoles in good to excellent yields. When the reaction was conducted in toluene, the corresponding N-hydroxyindole was isolated. A mechanism that accounts for the formation of N-hydroxyindole is proposed.     

Enhanced efficiency of recyclable C3-symmetric cinchonine-squaramides in the asymmetric Friedel–Crafts reaction of indoles with alkyl trifluoropyruvate

The highly enantioselective Friedel–Crafts reaction of indoles with trifluoropyruvate catalyzed by a C₃-symmetric cinchonine-squaramide is reported. A wide variety of trifluoromethylated indole derivatives were obtained in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities (99% and up to >99% ee). Moreover the C₃ catalyst can be easily recovered and was used five times.     

BF3-OEt2 Catalyzed C3-Alkylation of Indole: Synthesis of Indolylsuccinimidesand Their Cytotoxicity Studies

A simple and efficient BF₃-OEt₂ promoted C3-alkylation of indole has been developed to obtain3-indolylsuccinimidesfrom commercially available indoles and maleimides, with excellent yields under mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, anti-proliferative activity of these conjugates was evaluated against HT-29 (Colorectal), Hepg2 (Liver) and A549 (Lung) human cancer cell lines. One of the compounds, 3w, having N,N-Dimethylatedindolylsuccinimide is a potent congener amongst the series with IC₅₀ value 0.02 µM and 0.8 µM against HT-29 and Hepg2 cell lines, respectively, and compound 3i was most active amongst the series with IC₅₀ value 1.5 µM against A549 cells. Molecular docking study and mechanism of reaction have briefly beendiscussed. This method is better than previous reports in view of yield and substrate scope including electron deficient indoles.     

Photodesulfonylation of indoles initiated by electron transfer from triethylamine

N-Sulfonyl indoles can be easily deprotected by a photoinduced electron transfer reaction with triethylamine. By using an equivalent amount of n-Bu₃SnH in the photolysis medium, it is possible to suppress the competitive photo-Fries like rearrangement by scavenging the phenylsulfonyl radical.     

Nickel-catalyzed, base-mediated amination/hydroamination reaction sequence for a modular synthesis of indoles

A catalytic system consisting of [Ni(cod)₂] and ligand dppf enabled an efficient synthesis of differently substituted indoles through a modular reaction sequence, which consists of intermolecular aminations and intramolecular hydroaminations with ortho-alkynylhaloarenes.     

A new application for diethyl azodicarboxylate: efficient and regioselective thiocyanation of aromatics amines

Highly regioselective thiocyanations of indoles, anilines and pyrrole are achieved via an efficient and simple protocol using NH₄SCN and diethyl azodicarboxylate (DEAD) as a mild oxidant.     

One-pot access to indolylchromeno[2,3-b]indoles via iodine-mediated Friedel-Crafts alkylation/oxidative coupling reaction of indoles and salicylaldehydes

An I₂-mediated Friedel-Crafts alkylation/oxidative coupling reaction of indoles and salicylaldehydes was developed. With the developed protocol, a series of indolylchromeno[2,3-b]indoles were obtained in good yields (up to 88%) under mild reaction conditions. Two possible reaction mechanisms were tentatively brought forward to account for the formation of the products in light of some control experiments.     

Synthesis and structure of an air-stable binuclear complex of bis(ethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium perfluorooctanesulfonate and its catalytic application in one-pot three-component aza-Friedel–Crafts reactions

An air-stable Lewis acidic binuclear complex of bis(ethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium perfluorooctanesulfonate (1a) was successfully synthesized by the reaction of (CH₃CH₂Cp)₂ZrCl₂ with C₈F₁₇SO₃Ag. The complex 1a was characterized by different techniques and found to have the nature of air-stability, water tolerance, thermal-stability, and strong Lewis-acidity. In addition, its solubility was higher than that of our previously reported uninuclear zirconocene bis(perfluorooctanesulfonate). This complex showed high catalytic efficiency, good recyclability, and reusability in the one-pot three-component aza-Friedel–Crafts reactions of indoles with aldehydes and N,N-dimethylaniline. The yields of the corresponding 3-diarylmethyl indoles are higher than those from the traditional Lewis acidic catalysts.