Substituent-Directed Regioselective Azidation: Copper-Catalyzed C-H Azidation and Iodine-Catalyzed Dearomatizative Azidation of Indole

Azidation of indoles using iodine and copper bromide as catalysts under ambient reaction conditions is presented. The regioselectivity is directed by the substituent at the C3-position of indole. A radical stabilizing group such as an ester or ketone moiety at the C3-position of indole leads to azidation at the C2-position, whereas a less radical stabilizing group such as an alkyl or amide group at the C3-position of indole furnishes the 3-azidooxindole product. This protocol is mild and efficient to obtain several 2-azidoindole derivatives and 3-azidooxindole derivatives in moderate to good yields. The reaction conditions hold well for gram-scale synthesis.