The iron(III) chloride promoted desulfitative C–C coupling of α-oxo ketene dithioacetals
with indoles was developed for the synthesis of indole derivatives. In the presence
of iron(III) chloride, α-oxo ketene dithioacetals reacted efficiently and highly selectively
with C2-unsubstituted or C2-substituted indoles to afford excellent yields of β,β-bisindolyl or β-indolyl α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, respectively.
Key words
heterocycles - coupling - indoles - desulfurizations - catalysis