Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research, PO Box 1005, Pointe Claire-Dorval, Québec, Canada H9R 4P8
Abstract:
Catalytic hydrogenation of (2-nitrophenyl)acetonitriles bearing an electron-withdrawing substituent α to the nitrile, using Pd/C and (Ph3P)4Pd, affords N-hydroxy-2-aminoindoles in good to excellent yields. (Ph3P)4Pd decreases the reduction rate of the intermediate hydroxylamine and acts as a catalyst during the cyclization onto the nitrile.