Stepwise and one-pot cross-coupling–heteroannulation approaches toward 2-substituted C5-, C6-, and C7-nitroindoles

A general and efficient synthesis of 2-substituted C5-, C6-, and C7-nitroindoles has been established. Starting from commercially available 2-amino nitrophenols, C5-, C6-, and C7-nitroindoles were synthesized via the stepwise Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling of nitro 2-trifloxyanilides with 1-alkynes followed by the t-BuOK-mediated heteroannulation. A Pd-catalyzed one-pot coupling–heteroannulation procedure was carried out by using nitro 2-trifluoroacetamidoaryl triflates.