Cu(I)-phosphine complex: An efficient catalyst for synthesis of 3-indole derivatives through one-pot MCR under mild conditions

An efficient copper (I) halotriphenylphosphine catalyzed one-pot multicomponent reaction (MCR) of 3-substituted indole derivatives has been developed using a variety of aldehydes (aromatic, aliphatic, and heteroaromatic), indole, and active methylene substrates such as malononitrile and ethyl 2-cyano acetate. This reaction proceeds smoothly and obtained good to excellent yields (68–93%) using water as green solvent under ambient conditions. The obtained products were confirmed by ¹H, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectroscopy techniques. The one-pot MCR occurs through formation of Knoevenagel adducts then followed by Michael addition of indole.