Base-Catalyzed Synthesis ofN-(2-Arylethyl)anilines and Base-Promoted Domino Synthesis of 2,3-Dihydroindoles

The base is the key to the new one-pot reaction, which leads to pharmacologically interesting 2,3-dihydroindoles. The use of potassium tert-butylalcoholate enables the selective addition of primary anilines to substituted styrenes and a new domino reaction, consisting of a hydroamination and an aryne cyclization (see scheme).