Ruthenium-catalyzed synthesis of indoles from anilines and epoxides.
A general synthetic route to indoles from readily available anilines and epoxides by using ruthenium catalysis is described. This straightforward transformation allows a variety of indoles to be obtained in good yields by using [Ru3(CO)12]/1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene as the catalytic system. Water and hydrogen are formed as the only stoichiometric by-products, making this process highly atom efficient.
Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. an der Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 29a, 18059 Rostock (Germany).
Miguel
M
Peña-López
Helfried
H
Neumann
Matthias
M
Beller
anilines; epoxides; indole synthesis; ring-opening reactions; ruthenium catalysis