Ru(II)-Catalyzed Skeletal Editing of Oxindole with Internal Alkyne To Synthesize C7-Alkylated Indole Derivatives

Org Lett. 2024 Sep 27;26(38):8051-8056. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.4c02870. Epub 2024 Sep 16.

Abstract

A Ru(II)-catalyzed skeletal editing of oxindole scaffolds was established to afford C7-alkyl acetate indole derivatives using internal alkyne and alkyl alcohol. The developed method is simple, efficient, and straightforward. The reaction was extended to substrates having wide chemoselective profiles. When unsymmetrical alkynes were used, promising regioselectivity was realized. A preliminary mechanistic study revealed that the reaction pathway proceeded by Ru(II)/Ag(I)-catalyzed amide cleavage and subsequent oxidative annulation.