A synthetic method for palladium-catalyzed stannylation at the 5- and 6-benzo positions of indoles.

The stannylation of indole derivatives proceeds in good yields under palladium catalysis (5 mol %) without protection of the indolic nitrogen. The general utility of both PdCl(2)(PhCN)(2)/PCy(3) and Pd(2)dba(3)/PCy(3) as catalytic systems for the stannylation of three indole derivatives, with varying degrees of electron density, is presented.