Planar-Chiral Catalyst for Friedel-Crafts Alkylation of Indoles

Significance

There have been an increasing number of reports in the past few years utilizing platinum and gold catalysts. These catalysts have been shown to activate unsaturated moieties such as alkynes, alkenes, and allenes. Additionally, their low oxophilicity and tolerance to water and air is a benefit to use them as catalysts. Platinum olefin complexes are known to be susceptible to nucleophilic attack. The authors exploit this fact in this report on an intramolecular enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles.