Bismuth triflate catalyzed conjugate addition of indoles to α,β-enones

Reaction of indoles with electron deficient olefins under the influence of bismuth triflate has been studied at ambient temperature and affords the corresponding 3-alkylated indoles in excellent yields.     

Indole Alkaloids from Strychnos Species and Their Antiplasmodial and Cytotoxic Activites

Indole alkaloids from the African Strychnos species, their antiplasmodial and cytotoxic action, and structure -activity relationships are discussed in the review     

Two new monoterpenoid indole alkaloids from Tabernaemontana divaricata

Two new monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, tabervarines A (1) and B (2), along with seven known monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, were isolated from the methanol extract of the twigs and leaves of Tabernaemontana divaricata. The structures including the absolute configurations of the new alkaloids were elucidated based on MS, NMR, and ECD calculation. The in vitro cytotoxic activities of the isolated alkaloids against several human cancer cell lines were also evaluated.     

TEMPO/CuI synergetic catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of indoles with benzylamines: Synthesis of bis(indolyl)phenylmethanes

TEMPO/CuI was found to be an effective catalyst for the cross-coupling of indoles with benzylic amines affording the corresponding bis(indolyl)phenylmethanes under air atmosphere at room temperature in good to excellent yields. The efficiency, easy workup, simplicity, and chemoselectivity of this protocol provide a green and low-cost procedure for the synthesis of these compounds.     

Catalyst-free and atom-economic synthesis of substituted 1-acetyl and 1-hydroxyl carbazoles

The first-ever Diels-Alder reactions of 3-alkenyl indoles with a conjugated alkynyl ketone are reported. These reactions proceed in an atom-economic manner without a catalyst and give various substituted 1-acetyl carbazoles in moderate to excellent yields. These products can be converted to 1-hydroxyl carbazoles in high yields under mild reaction conditions.     

The crystal structure of a novel product from the acid-catalyzed condensation of 1-benzylindole with acetone

The acid-catalyzed condensation of 1-benzylindole with acetone in the presence of N-phenylmaleimide gave a tetrahydrocarbazole, (4,5,10,10b-tetrahydro-5-methyl-2-phenyl-10-(phenylmethyl)pyrrolo[3,4-a]carbazole-1,3[2H, 3aH]-dione (1), as the major product and a novel spiro compound, 1,3,4,4-tetrahydro-1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-4,4-bis(phenylmethyl)-1,3(2H, 2H)-spiro[cyclopent[b]indole] (2), as the minor product. The structure of the spiro compound was determined by an X-ray crystallographic determination. The acid-catalyzed condensation of 1-benzylindole with acetone in the absence of N-phenylmaleimide gave a bisindole, (1,1-bis(phenylmethyl)-3,3-(1-methylethylidene)diindole (3), as the major product and the spiro-compound as the minor product.     

Synthesis of 4-thiaharmalan analogue 4-aryl-1,3-thiazino[5,6-b]indole derivatives by prevention of rearrangements to position two of the indole moiety

An efficient and selective non-acidic protocol has been developed for the synthesis of derivatives of a new ring system: 4-aryl-1,3-thiazino[5,6-b]indole, a 4-thiaharmalan analogue. The convenient amidomethylation of indole-3-thiol (5) afforded 3-benzoylaminomethylthio-1H-indole (7a), with ortho-amidomethylated 2-benzoylamino-methyl-3-benzoylaminomethylthio-1H-indole (8) as side product. Following the Bischler-Napieralski reaction of 7a the rearranged 2-benzoylaminomethylthio-1H-indole 11 could be isolated. In order to prevent such rearrangements the target thiazinoindoles were prepared via 3-thiobenzoylaminomethylthioindole (13) via a modified Bischler-Napieralski reaction.     

Catalytic Reaction of Aryldiazoacetates with Indole and Its Derivatives:Profound Effect of N‐1 Substitutent on the Reaction Pathways

The reaction of indole and its derivatives with aryldiazoacetates has been studied in the presence of copper and rhodium catalysts. The electronic property of N-1 substitutent showed significant effect on the reaction pathways. The electron-donating group favored the formation of the β-alkylation products, while the electron-withdrawing group favored the formation of the cyclopropane products. A reaction mechanism was proposed based on the experimental data and previous research results. The structure of aryl group in diazo compounds also affected the yield of the β-alkylation products or the cyclopropane products.     

Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Dearomatization of Indole Acetamides with 3‐Indolylphenyliodonium Salts

The rapid and direct asymmetric synthesis of 3‐(3a‐indolyl)hexahydropyrroloindoline motifs is an extremely important part of the total synthesis of several alkaloid structures. Herein, an intermolecular, asymmetric cascade dearomatization reaction of indole acetamides with 3‐indolylphenyliodonium salts has been developed. This protocol provides a straightforward access to 3‐(3a‐indolyl)hexahydropyrroloindolines bearing an all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter at the C3 position of the indoline ring with high enantioselectivities. The utility of the protocol has been demonstrated by the formal asymmetric synthesis of folicanthine.