Expanding the [1,2]‐Aryl Migration to the Synthesis of Substituted Indoles

Closing in on the product: A range of 2- and 2,3-substituted indoles 2 have been synthesized in moderate to excellent yields by the addition of carbon nucleophiles (organometallic reagents, RM) to readily accessible 1-(2-aminophenyl)-2-chloroethanones of type 1 under mild conditions (see scheme). A mechanism has been proposed that involves a unique [1,2]-aryl migration of intermediate 3.