A Direct Access to 7-Aminoindoles via Iridium-Catalyzed Mild C–H Amidation of N-Pivaloylindoles with Organic Azides

Ir(III)-catalyzed regioselective direct C-7 amidation of indoles in reaction with organic azides has been developed. While its efficiency was varied by the choice of N-directing groups, N-pivaloylindoles were most effective in undergoing the desired amidation at room temperature over a broad range of substrates. The reaction was scalable, and deprotection of the chelation group was also facile.