Heterogeneously Catalyzed Domino Synthesis of 3-Indolylquinones Involving Direct Oxidative C-C Coupling of Hydroquinones and Indoles.

A domino synthesis of 3-indolylquinones was achieved successfully via direct oxidative C-C coupling of hydroquinones with indoles over AgO and FeO/povidone-phosphotungstic acid (PVP-PWA) catalysts using HO in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature. AgO catalyzed the in situ oxidation of hydroquinone and 3-indolylhydroquinone intermediates, whereas ferrite solid acid, FeO/PVP-PWA, with a 1:4:1 ratio of FeO, PVP, and PWA, catalyzed the activation of quinones. The efficiency of this catalytic domino approach was established by a broad scope of substrates involving a variety of hydroquinones and quinones to give high yields (81-97%) of 3-indolylquinones. FeO/PVP-PWA was separated magnetically, whereas simple filtration could separate AgO, both of which could be recycled several times without losing their activities.