Synthesis 2013; 45(19): 2719-2726
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1339515
paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Highly Efficient Aluminum Trichloride Catalyzed Michael Addition of Indoles and Pyrroles to Maleimides

Yu-Long An
Department of Chemistry, Donghua University, No. 2999 North Renmin Road, Shanghai 201620, P. R. of China   Fax: +86(21)67792608-805   Email: syzhao8@dhu.edu.cn
,
Zhi-Yu Shao
Department of Chemistry, Donghua University, No. 2999 North Renmin Road, Shanghai 201620, P. R. of China   Fax: +86(21)67792608-805   Email: syzhao8@dhu.edu.cn
,
Jian Cheng
Department of Chemistry, Donghua University, No. 2999 North Renmin Road, Shanghai 201620, P. R. of China   Fax: +86(21)67792608-805   Email: syzhao8@dhu.edu.cn
,
Sheng-Yin Zhao*
Department of Chemistry, Donghua University, No. 2999 North Renmin Road, Shanghai 201620, P. R. of China   Fax: +86(21)67792608-805   Email: syzhao8@dhu.edu.cn
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 09 May 2013

Accepted after revision: 11 July 2013

Publication Date:
06 August 2013 (online)


Abstract

A highly efficient synthetic strategy for Michael addition of indoles and pyrroles to maleimides has been developed using the Lewis acids zinc chloride or aluminum trichloride as the catalyst. The reactions generated 3-substituted indoles and 2-substituted pyrroles in high yields with excellent regioselectivity in the presence of a catalytic amount of zinc chloride or aluminum trichloride under mild reaction conditions. The method is simple, efficient, and practical.

Supporting Information