Friedel–Crafts reaction of indoles with vicinal tricarbonyl compounds generated in situ from 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and TEMPO: highly selective synthesis of tertiary alcohols
A novel Friedel–Crafts reaction of indoles with vicinal tricarbonyl compounds generated in situ has been developed, forming indolyl tertiary alcohols. The process involves disproportionation of TEMPO, α-oxyamination, N–O bond cleavage and, finally, addition of the indole.