ZrCl4 catalyzed highly selective and efficient Michael addition of heterocyclic enamines with α,β-unsaturated olefins

Highly selective and efficient Michael additions of heterocyclic enamines, viz. indoles, pyrroles, and pyrazoles with α,β-unsaturated olefins using 2 mol % of ZrCl₄ has been achieved.     

α-Trifluoromethyl-β-aryl enamines in the synthesis of trifluoromethylated heterocycles by the Fischer and the Pictet-Spengler reactions

α-Trifluoromethyl-β-aryl enamines were successfully used as synthetic equivalents of benzyltrifluoromethyl ketones in both the Fischer indole synthesis and the Pictet-Spengler reaction. Accordingly, 2-trifluoromethyl indoles and a variety of trifluoromethylated 4,5,6,7-terahydro-1H-pyridines including carbolines were synthesized in moderate to good yields.     

Electrosynthesis of Dihydropyrano[4,3-b]indoles Based on a Double Oxidative [3+3] Cycloaddition

Oxidative [3+3] cycloadditions offer an efficient route for six-membered-ring formation. This approach has been realized based on an electrochemical oxidative coupling of indoles/enamines with active methylene compounds followed by tandem 6π-electrocyclization leading to the synthesis of dihydropyrano[4,3-b]indoles and 2,3-dihydrofurans. The radical–radical cross-coupling of the radical species generated by anodic oxidation combined with the cathodic generation of the base from O₂ allows for mild reaction conditions for the synthesis of structurally complex heterocycles.     

Electrosynthesis of Dihydropyrano[4,3‐b]indoles Based on a Double Oxidative [3+3] Cycloaddition

Oxidative [3+3] cycloadditions offer an efficient route for six‐membered‐ring formation. This approach has been realized based on an electrochemical oxidative coupling of indoles/enamines with active methylene compounds followed by tandem 6π‐electrocyclization leading to the synthesis of dihydropyrano[4,3‐b]indoles and 2,3‐dihydrofurans. The radical–radical cross‐coupling of the radical species generated by anodic oxidation combined with the cathodic generation of the base from O₂ allows for mild reaction conditions for the synthesis of structurally complex heterocycles.     

Direct Trifluoromethylthiolation and Perfluoroalkylthiolation of C(sp2)H Bonds with CF3SO2Na and RfSO2Na

A new method for CF₃SO₂Na‐based direct trifluoromethylthiolation of C(sp²)? H bonds has been developed. CF₃SSCF₃ is generated in situ from cheap and easy‐to‐handle CF₃SO₂Na, and in the presence of CuCl can be used for electrophilic trifluoromethylthiolation of indoles, pyrroles, and enamines. The method has been extended to perfluoroalkylthiolation reactions using R_fSO₂Na.     

Synthesis of Indoles Using Visible Light: Photoredox Catalysis for Palladium‐Catalyzed CH Activation

A combined palladium‐ and photoredox‐catalyzed C? H olefination enables the synthesis of indoles. By using visible light, the direct C? H activation of aromatic enamines can be achieved and a variety of indole derivatives can be obtained in good yields under mild reaction conditions.     

Direct Trifluoromethylthiolation and Perfluoroalkylthiolation of C(sp2)?H Bonds with CF3SO2Na and RfSO2Na

A new method for CF₃SO₂Na‐based direct trifluoromethylthiolation of C(sp²) H bonds has been developed. CF₃SSCF₃ is generated in situ from cheap and easy‐to‐handle CF₃SO₂Na, and in the presence of CuCl can be used for electrophilic trifluoromethylthiolation of indoles, pyrroles, and enamines. The method has been extended to perfluoroalkylthiolation reactions using R_fSO₂Na.     

A multi-component domino reaction for the direct access to polyfunctionalized indoles via intermolecular allylic esterification and indolation

A novel multi-component reaction for the synthesis of polyfunctionalized indoles and bis-indoles has been established. The reaction pathways were controlled by varying enamines with different substitution patterns to give polyfunctionalized indoles and bis-indoles selectively. The reaction proceeds at a fast speed within 15-30 min with water as the major byproduct, which makes work-up convenient.     

Arylation of Rhodium(II) Azavinyl Carbenes with Boronic Acids

A highly efficient and stereoselective arylation of in situ-generated azavinyl carbenes affording 2,2-diaryl enamines at ambient temperatures has been developed. These transition-metal carbenes are directly produced from readily available and stable 1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles in the presence of a rhodium carboxylate catalyst. In several cases, the enamines generated in this reaction can be cyclized into substituted indoles employing copper catalysis.     

I2O5 promoted iodosulfenylation of indoles under metal-free conditions

A mild, efficient, and metal-free strategy to construct 2-iodo-3-arylthioindoles was developed via I₂O₅-promoted iodosulfenylation of indoles utilizing simple, cheap and easily available thiophenols as sulfur sources. It is the first time that the iodothiolation difunctionalization of indoles at C-2 and C-3 positions was accomplished with the formation of 2-iodo-3-arylthioindoles in moderate to good yields.     

Synthesis of N-vinyl substituted indoles and their acid-catalyzed behavior

A mild cross-coupling reaction has been used to access several N-vinyl substituted indoles. When treated with acid, these unique enamines produce novel dimeric and trimeric products derived from a preferred protonation reaction at the enamine π-bond.     

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.     

Indirect regioselective heteroarylation of indoles through a Friedel-Crafts reaction with (E)-1,4-diaryl-2-buten-1,4-diones

A two-step synthesis of 3-heteroaryl indoles has been developed. The first step of the sequence involves a Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with 1,4-diaryl-2-buten-1,4-diones to give the corresponding indoles bearing a 1,4-dicarbonyl moiety. The reaction is catalyzed by InCl₃ and takes place with good yields. Cyclization of the diones under different Paal-Knorr conditions allows to prepare indoles substituted at the C3 position with 3-furanyl, 3-pyrrolyl- and 3-thienyl moieties.     

Synthesis of 1-substituted-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-(2-oxopropyl)-1H-pyrido [3,4-b] indoles and their base-catalyzed rearrangements to N- [2-[2-(1-alkyl-3-oxobutenyl)-1H-indol-3-yl] ethyl]acetamides

The condensation of 1H-indole-3-ethanamides, 1 , with 2,4-pentanediones, 2 , gave enamines 3 . Acid catalyzed ring closure of 3 gave 1-(1-substituted-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro- (2-oxopropyl) -1H-pyrido [3,4-b] indoles 4 . Subsequent N-acetylation yielded 5 which sequentially produced 2,3-disubstituted indoles 6 and 7 resulting from C? N bond cleavage after treatment with sodium alkoxide in ethanol. Controlled catalytic hydrogenation of the latter gave saturated derivatives 8 and 9 .     

Synthesis of 6-nitro-4-sulfanyl-1H-indole derivatives from 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

The synthesis of 6-nitro-4-sulfanyl-1H-indoles from 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is described. The first step is the nucleophilic substitution of an ortho-nitro group with a thiol to give the corresponding sulfide. The latter were transformed into the corresponding enamines upon treatment with dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal (DMF DMA). The enamines were converted into the indoles applying the Batcho–Leimgruber synthetic protocol.     

A new synthesis of 3-arylthioindoles as selective COX-2 inhibitors using PIFA

The direct 3-arylthiolation of 2-substituted indoles using phenyliodine(III)bis trifluoroacetate (PIFA) in (CF₃)₂CHOH with a wide variety of benzenethiols has been accomplished. In particular, indoles bearing a 6-MeSO₂ and either a 2-methyl or 2-carboxymethyl substituent could be 3-arylthiolated in good to excellent yields to afford the corresponding 3-arylthioindoles as selective COX-2 inhibitors. In a study varying the electronic nature of the 5-substituent of 2-CO₂Et indoles, it was discovered that the yield of the reaction improved as the substituent became more electron withdrawing. This result was consistent with a proposed mechanism involving benzenethiol displacement of an intermediate 3-IPh indole complex.     

Bromamine-B/PdCl2 is an Efficient System for the Synthesis of Anthranilic Acids from Indoles and Indigos

A convenient method has been developed for the conversion of indoles and indigos into anthranilic acids in good to excellent yields using a bromamine-B/PdCl₂ system. The general process utilizes our efficient method for the oxidation of indoles and indigos in alkaline (pH 12) acetonitrile/water (1:1) at 60 °C.     

An efficient synthesis of N-substituted indoles from indoline/indoline carboxylic acid via aromatization followed by C–N cross-coupling reaction by using nano copper oxide as a recyclable catalyst

A new and elegant protocol for the synthesis of 1-substituted indoles was developed via aromatization of indoline/indoline carboxylic acid followed by C–N cross-coupling with various aryl halides in the presence of nano CuO as a recyclable catalyst, Cs₂CO₃ as a base in DMSO at 80 °C. 1-Substituted indoles were obtained in good to excellent yields and the catalytic system can be recycled up to four cycles without loss of catalytic activity.     

Diastereoselective Ruthenium-Catalyzed Michael Addition of Indoles to Hormone Steroids: An Efficient Route to New Indole Derivatives

Diastereoselective conjugate 1,4-addition of indoles to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (hormone steroids) using Ru(III) as catalyst is reported. It was found that RuCl₃·nH₂O catalyzes the Michael addition of indoles to hormone steroids, providing new 3-alkylated derivatives in good to excellent yields.     

FeCl3 as Lewis acid catalyzed one-pot three-component aza-Friedel-Crafts reactions of indoles, aldehydes, and tertiary aromatic amines

A new strategy for the synthesis of 3-diarylmethyl indoles was developed through FeCl₃ as Lewis acid catalyzed three-component aza-Friedel-Crafts reactions of indoles, aldehydes, and tertiary aromatic amines in one-pot. The reactions generated the corresponding 3-diarylmethyl indoles in good yields under mild reaction conditions by using less expensive, readily available, and environmentally benign iron catalyst. It is important to note that the key feature of this reaction is operational simplicity.