An efficient and environmentally friendly protocol for the synthesis of 1-(α-hydroxyindole)-o-carboranes has been developed via Friedel–Crafts reaction of C3-H of indoles with
1-formyl-o-carborane in the absence of Lewis acid and solvent. The intermolecular σ-π interaction
between indole and B–H bonds of o-carborane was proposed for promoting the Friedel–Crafts reaction of the C3-H of indole.
Key words
carborane - indole - Friedel–Crafts reaction - metal-free reaction - 1-(α-hydroxyindole)-
o-carborane