Ni-Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Alkynes and Amides to Access Multi-Functionalized Indoles

Org Lett. 2022 Feb 4;24(4):989-994. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c03971. Epub 2022 Jan 20.

Abstract

A nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling of alkynes and amides, followed by base-free transmetalation, proceeded selectively in the presence of an uncommon bidentate primary aminophosphine ligand to access highly functionalized indoles comprising biologically important trifluoromethyl groups and challenging electron-rich alkenyl groups at the 2- and 3-positions, respectively. Indole molecules were installed within natural products or drug molecules under mild conditions, and a trifluoromethylated analogue of a drug molecule (pravadoline) was also synthesized.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't