N‐Heterocyclic‐Carbene‐Catalyzed Synthesis of 2‐Aryl Indoles

Abstract

A convergent and efficient transition-metal-free catalytic synthesis of 2-aryl-indoles has been developed. The interception of a highly reactive and transient aza-ortho-quinone methide by an acyl anion equivalent generated through N-hetereocyclic carbene catalysis is central to this successful strategy. High yields and a wide scope as well as the streamlined synthesis of a kinase inhibitor are reported.