Gold(i)-catalyzed regioselective hydroarylation of indole-ynones: an approach to carbazole derivatives

Abstract

A gold(I)-catalyzed regioselective umpolung hydroarylation of indole-ynones to dihydrocarbazoles is reported. When a vinyl group is installed at the carbonyl end, ynone umpolung arylation is achieved, followed by tandem Nazarov cyclization to polycycles, while hydroarylation/oxidation directly gives carbazoles. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions with high tolerance for diverse substituents.