C2-Acylated indoles have been synthesized in good yields through palladium-catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling of N-pyrimidine-protected indoles using aldehydes as the source of acyl reagent and tert-butyl hydroperoxide as the oxidant. 2-Indole carboxylates can be synthesized when aldehydes are substituted by ethyl glyoxylate.
Key words
palladium - dehydrogenative coupling - aldehyde - acylation - indoles