Transition-metal-free synthesis of multisubstituted N-arylindoles via reaction of arynes and α-amino ketones

A simple transition-metal-free protocol for the synthesis of indoles has been developed using aryne cycloaddition. The in situ-generated arynes couple with alpha-amino ketones through a one-step N-arylation-nucleophilic addition process under mild conditions and efficiently produce multi-substituted N-arylindoles. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.