Regioselective Rh-catalyzed direct carbonylation of indoles to synthesize indole-3-carboxylates.
Rh-catalyzed C-H carbonylation of indoles under 1 atm of CO has been achieved. Various substituted indoles and indole with free N-H could be carboxylated with linear- and/or cyclic-alcohol to give the desired indole-3-carboxylates with up to 92% yield. A mechanism involving Rh(III) initiated C-H metallation is proposed.
State Key Laboratory for Oxo Synthesis and Selective Oxidation, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
Rui
R
Lang
Junliang
J
Wu
Lijun
L
Shi
Chungu
C
Xia
Fuwei
F
Li