3-Nitroindoles Serving as -Centered Nucleophiles for Aza-1,6-Michael Addition to -Quinone Methides.

An unprecedented -alkylation of 3-nitroindoles with -quinone methides was developed for the first time. Using potassium carbonate as the base, a wide range of structurally diverse -diarylmethylindole derivatives were obtained with moderated to good yields via the protection group migration/-1,6-Michael addition sequences. The reaction process was also demonstrated by control experiments. Different from the previous advances where 3-nitrodoles served as electrophiles trapping by various nucleophiles, the reaction herein is featured that 3-nitrodoles is defined with latent -centered nucleophiles to react with -hydrophenyl -QMs for construction of various -diarylmethylindoles.