Application of a radical catalysed isomerisation reaction to the synthesis of fused [1,2-a]indoles

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(97)01378-6

A new radical triggered isomerisation approach to fused indoles is presented; the proposed mechanism involves the radical cyclization of a β-toluenesulfonyl-vinyl radical or β-toluenesulfonyl-alkyl radical onto a sulfone substituted indole and is catalysed with Se-phenylp-toluene-selenosulfonate (TsSePh).