Synthesis 2021; 53(06): 1087-1094
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1705997
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Michael Addition of Indoles to Enones Catalyzed by a Cationic Iron Salt

Tsukasa Inishi
,
Goki Hirata
,
Financial support provided by Yamaguchi University and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science [JSPS, KAKENHI Grant Number JP18H04262(TN), Precisely Designed Catalysts with Customized Scaffolding] is gratefully acknowledged.


Abstract

Indoles are one of the most valuable nucleophiles in Michael additions catalyzed by a proper Lewis acid. In this paper, we found that a cationic iron salt is effective to carry out the Michael addition of indoles. β-Mono- and disubstituted enones reacted smoothly with indoles under our conditions. The cationic iron catalyst is very active, and the maximum TON was up to 425. Moreover, cationic iron-catalyzed conditions enabled a chemoselective Michael addition of a substrate possessing both enone and α,β-unsaturated ester moieties.

Supporting Information



Publication History

Received: 04 November 2020

Accepted after revision: 16 November 2020

Article published online:
07 January 2021

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