Novel Synthesis of Indoles via Palladium-Catalyzed Reductive N-Heterocyclization of o-Nitrostyrene Derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/cl.1992.769

Indole derivatives were readily prepared from the reductive N-heterocyclization of o-nitrostyrene derivatives in the presence of a catalytic amount of PdCl2(PPh3)2 - SnCl2 under carbon monoxide pressure (20 kg/cm²) at 100 deg C for 16 h.With o-nitrostilbene, 2-phenylindole was obtained in 75percent yield.