Highly Efficient Synthesis of Hindered 3-Azoindoles via Metal-Free C–H Functionalization of Indoles

Nicolas Jacob; Lucas Guillemard; Joanna Wencel-Delord

doi:10.1055/s-0039-1690048

Synthesis, Table of Contents

Synthesis 2020; 52(04): 574-580
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1690048

paper

Highly Efficient Synthesis of Hindered 3-Azoindoles via Metal-Free C–H Functionalization of Indoles

Nicolas Jacob

,

Lucas Guillemard

,

Joanna Wencel-Delord∗

Laboratoire d’Innovation Moléculaire et Applications (UMR CNRS 7042), Université de Strasbourg/Université de Haute-Alsace, ECPM, 25 Rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg, France Email: wenceldelord@unistra.fr

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Abstract

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Published as part of the Bürgenstock Special Section 2019 Future Stars in Organic Chemistry

Abstract

Although 3-azoindoles have recently emerged as an appealing family of photoswitch molecules, the synthesis of such compounds has been poorly covered in the literature. Herein a high-yielding and operationally simple protocol is reported allowing the synthesis of 3-azoindoles, featuring important steric hindrance around the azo motif. Remarkably, this C–H coupling is characterized by excellent atom economy and occurs under metal-free conditions, at room temperature, and within few minutes, delivering the expected products in excellent yields (quantitatively in most of the cases). Accordingly, a library of new molecules, with potential applications as photochromic compounds, is prepared.

Key words

azoindole - C–H functionalization of indoles - azoswitches - diazenylation

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References

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