Diversity oriented synthesis of indole-based peri-annulated compounds via allylic alkylation reactions

Diverse indole-based peri-annulated compounds were synthesized via transition-metal-catalyzed allylic alkylation reaction. With palladium catalyst, indole-based nine-membered ring products were obtained in 40–70% yields. When iridium catalyst was used, highly enantioenriched seven-membered ring products were obtained in 40–78% yields and 91–97% ee. Meanwhile, when 3-substituted indole substrates were employed with a palladium catalyst, asymmetric allylic dearomatization of indoles occurred with products obtained in 48–78% yields and 35–78% ee with a chiral ferrocene-based Phox ligand. Interestingly, with an iridium catalyst, Friedel–Crafts type allylic alkylation reaction proceeded at the C5 position of indole, affording the products with 40–60% yields and 56–97% ee.