Amine Directed Pd(II)-Catalyzed C–H Activation-Intramolecular Amination of <i>N</i>-Het(aryl)/Acyl Enaminonitriles and Enaminones: An Approach towards Multisubstituted Indoles and Heterofused Pyrroles

Abstract

An efficient route to multisubstituted indoles has been developed through intramolecular oxidative C-H activation-amination of readily available 2-(het)aryl-3-(het)aryl/alkyl-3-(het)aryl/acylaminoacrylonitrile/enaminone precursors in the presence of either palladium acetate/cupric acetate catalytic system under oxygen atmosphere or palladium acetate/silver carbonate in the presence of pivalic acid as additive. The method is compatible with a diverse range of substituents on the aryl ring as well as at the 2- and 3-positions of the indole ring. The versatility of this method was further demonstrated by elaborating it for the synthesis of heterofused pyrroles such as thieno[2,3-b]pyrroles, thieno[3,2-b]pyrroles, pyrrolo[2,3-b]indoles, and pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridines in good yields. Probable mechanisms for the formation of these indoles have been suggested.