Rhodium-Catalyzed Annulation of -Acetoxyacetanilide with Substituted Alkynes: Conversion of Nitroarenes to Substituted Indoles.

A general and efficient rhodium-catalyzed redox-neutral annulation of -acetoxyacetanilides, readily accessible from nitroarenes, with alkynes has been accomplished for the synthesis of substituted indole derivatives. A wide range of substituted 2,3-diarylindoles were achieved from various substituted -acetoxyacetanilides and symmetrical/unsymmetrical alkynes in good to excellent yields. The developed method was successfully integrated with the synthesis of -acetoxyacetanilides for the efficient one-pot synthesis of indoles from nitroarenes. The important features are the introduction of -acetoxyacetamide as a new directing group, redox-neutral annulation, an additive-free approach, wide functional group tolerance, an intramolecular version, and a one-pot reaction of nitroarenes. The method was further extended to the synthesis of potent higher analogues of indole, , pyrrolo[3,2-]indoles and dibenzo[,]carbazoles. In addition, a plausible mechanism was proposed based on the isolation and stoichiometric study of a potential aryl-Rh intermediate.