title: A general synthesis of substituted indoles from cyclic enol ethers and enol lactones.
abstract: [reaction: see text] X = CH2, C[double bond]O, R2 = H, alkyl. A general method was developed for the one-pot synthesis of highly functionalized indoles from simple, commercially available aryl hydrazines and cyclic enol ethers. Enol lactones were also used as substrates, affording substituted indole acetic acid or indole propionic acid derivatives. This procedure affords 2,3-disubstituted indoles as single regioisomers from the appropriately substituted enol ether or enol lactone. This method was highlighted in the efficient synthesis of the antimigraine drug sumitriptan and the antiinflammatory drug indomethacin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Process Research, Merck & Co., Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, USA. kevin_campos@merck.com
authors.forename: Kevin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Jacqueline C S
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Tillyer