Copper-Catalyzed C-C Bond Formation via C-H Functionalization: Synthesis of Multisubstituted Indoles from N-(Aryl)enaminones

A variety of functionalities, including the whole range of halogen substituents, are tolerated in the title reaction, an intramolecular approach for the construction of a multisubstituted indole skeleton from readily available enaminones (see scheme; phen=1,10-phenanthroline). The indole products are also prepared directly in high yield from a,b-ynones and primary amines