Gold(I)-catalyzed one-pot reaction between 2-alkynylanilines and alkynols leading to the formation of C-3-substituted indoles: a case of formal carboamination of alkynes

A process involving gold(I)-catalyzed formal carboamination of alkynes for the synthesis of C-3-substituted indoles has been developed. The procedure utilizes easily accessible starting materials such as 2-alkynylanilines and alkynols. A series of C-3-functionalized indoles are accessible by using this one-pot strategy. Mechanistically, the reaction involves three catalytic cycles and each of them is essentially catalyzed by a single metal catalyst, that is, Ph₃PAuOTf.