Gold(I)-catalyzed intermolecular hydroarylation of alkenes with indoles under thermal and microwave-assisted conditions

An efficient method for intermolecular hydroarylation of aryl and aliphatic alkenes with indoles using a combination of [(PR3)AuCl]/AgOTf as catalyst under thermal and microwave-assisted conditions has been developed. The gold(I)-catalyzed reactions of indoles with aryl alkenes were achieved in toluene at 85 °C over a reaction time of 1–3 h with 2 mol % of [(PR3)AuCl]/AgOTf as catalyst. This method works for a variety of styrenes bearing electron-deficient, electron-rich, and sterically bulky substituents to give the corresponding products in good to high yields (60–95 %). Under microwave irradiation, coupling of unactivated aliphatic alkenes with indoles gave the corresponding adducts in up to 90 % yield. Selective hydroarylation of terminal C[DOUBLE BOND]C bond of conjugated dienes with indoles gave good product yields (62–81 %). On the basis of deuterium-labeling experiments, a reaction mechanism involving nucleophilic attack of Au(I)-coordinated alkenes by indoles is proposed.Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technolog