Gold(III)-catalyzed annulation of 2-alkynylanilines in EtOH or EtOH-water mixtures at room temperature gives indoles derivatives in good yields. One-flask protocol for the gold-catalyzed conversion of 2-alkynylanilines to 3-bromo and 3-iodoindoles is also reported.
2-alkynylanilines - indoles - 5-endo-dig cyclization - gold catalysis - halogenations