Convenient synthesis of 2-substituted indoles from 2-ethynylanilines with tetrabutylammonium fluoride

Abstract

The cyclization reaction of various 2-ethynylanilines, which were easily synthesized from 2-haloanilines by the palladium-catalyzed reaction with terminal alkynes, with tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) to yield 2-substituted indoles proceeded at refluxing or room temperature in THF in excellent yields without affecting the bromo, chloro, cyano, ethoxycarbonyl, and ethynyl groups.