Combining Pd(π-allyl)Cp and PPh3 as a unique catalyst for efficient synthesis of alkyliodo indoles via C(sp3)-I reductive elimination

The combination of Pd(pi-allyl)Cp and PPh3 was found to generate an efficient catalyst for the formation of indole-containing alkyl iodides from ortho-amino iodobenzenes and both aromatic and aliphatic alkynes. A unique feature of this reaction is a palladium-promoted C(sp(3))-I bond formation via reductive elimination. This catalytic process was found to be very sensitive to the size and equivalents of phosphine ligands and the nature of the base.