Synthesis of Substituted 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-Azaindoles from Aminopyridines via a Cascade C-N Cross-Coupling/Heck Reaction.

A practical palladium-catalyzed cascade C-N cross-coupling/Heck reaction of alkenyl bromides with amino-o-bromopyridines is described for a straightforward synthesis of substituted 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-azaindoles using a Pd2(dba)3/XPhos/t-BuONa system. This procedure consists of the first cascade C-N cross-coupling/Heck approach toward all four azaindole isomers from available aminopyridines. The scope of the reaction was investigated and several alkenyl bromides were used, allowing access to different substituted azaindoles. This protocol was further explored for N-substituted amino-o-bromopyridines.