Azo Coupling of Indoles Revisited: Synthesis of Biindolyl Photoswitches via the Azo-Coupling/C-H Functionalization Domino Approach

J Org Chem. 2023 Sep 15;88(18):12949-12957. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.3c00794. Epub 2023 Aug 25.

Abstract

When azo coupling of aryldiazonium salts with indoles was carried out in aprotic nonpolar solvent on air, a pseudo-three-component reaction has been discovered. Azo coupling is followed by a nucleophilic addition of a second indole unit to the indolium intermediate; aromatization and oxidation are achieved under air.