A strategy for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted indoles starting from N-(o-halophenyl)allenamides.

A strategy for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted indole derivatives based on an intramolecular carbopalladation-anion capture cascade has been developed, wherein construction of the pyrrole ring and functionalisation of the indole C2 and C3 positions were achieved by extensive use of palladium(0)-catalysed coupling reactions.