Preparation of the isomeric azaindoline family by intramolecular carbolithiation

An operationally convenient, one-pot, three-step sequence has been developed that provides access to 3-substituted 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-azaindolines (2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrollopyridines) via intramolecular carbolithiation of the aryllithium derived from an appropriate (N,N-diallylamino)bromopyridine. Whereas cyclization proceeds as expected to give 1-allyl-3-methyl-4-azaindoline and 1-allyl-3-methyl-6-azaindoline following protonation of the 3-CH2Li group of the azaindoline, the isomeric 3-methyl-5-azaindoline and 3-methyl-7-azaindoline are generated as 3-methyl-N-allyl anions prior to quench with MeOH.