Copper-mediated radical alkylarylation of unactivated alkenes with acetonitrile leading to fluorenes and pyrroloindoles

A Cu-mediated/catalyzed selective oxidative dual C-H bond cleavage of an arene and alkylnitrile or acetone is reported. This method provides a novel approach to highly functionalized fluorene and pyrroloindole derivatives, which are useful in pharmaceutical and photoelectronic areas. In this reaction, two new C(sp(3))-C(sp(3)) and C(Ar)-C(sp(3)) bonds, a quaternary center and a five-membered ring are simultaneously formed.