10.1021/jo900076r
The study investigates the carbon nucleophilicities of indoles in SNAr substitutions with superelectrophilic compounds, specifically 7-chloro-4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan (DNBF-Cl) and 7-chloro-4,6-dinitrobenzofurazan (DNBZ-Cl). A series of indoles with different substitutions, 1,2,5-trimethylpyrrole, and azulene were used as weak carbon nucleophiles to react with these superelectrophiles in acetonitrile. The purpose of these reactions was to understand the reactivity and electrophilicity of the superelectrophilic compounds and to extend the domain of reactivity of indoles as carbon nucleophiles. The study also aimed to rank the electrophilicity of DNBF-Cl and DNBZ-Cl on the general electrophilicity scale E developed by Mayr, and to understand the influence of steric effects on the reactions involving 2-methylindole systems. The research involved synthesis, characterization of products, and kinetic studies of the substitutions, providing insights into the mechanisms and rates of these coupling reactions.