An Electrochemical Route for Special Oxidative Ring-Opening of Indoles

A novel electrochemical protocol for the oxidative cleavage of indoles has been developed, which offers a simple way to access synthetically useful anthranilic acid derivatives. In undivided cells, a wide variety of indoles and alcohol compounds are examined to afford amide ester aromatics without using extra oxidants and stoichiometric metal catalysts, which avoids the formation of undesired by-products and exhibits high atom economy. The products we described in this perspective represent a synthetic intermediate in numerous drug molecules and industrial chemical reagents and remarkably show potential application in the future.

Automated summary

The novel electrochemical protocol developed for the oxidative cleavage of indoles provides a simple way to access synthetically useful anthranilic acid derivatives. This method avoids the formation of undesired by-products by examining a wide variety of indoles and alcohol compounds in undivided cells to afford amide ester aromatics. The described products serve as synthetic intermediates in numerous drug molecules and industrial chemical reagents, showing potential application in the future.