Ir(iii)-Catalysed electrooxidative intramolecular dehydrogenative C–H/N–H coupling for the synthesis of N–H indoles

Abstract

Herein, an iridium(III)-catalysed electrooxidative intramolecular dehydrogenative C–H/N–H coupling of unprotected 2-alkenyl anilines is described. The developed method allows the synthesis of a variety of 3-substituted N–H indole scaffolds under undivided electrolytic conditions. Mechanistic studies suggest that the reaction proceeds through the electro-oxidation induced reductive elimination pathway.