Bifunctional Iron Complexes Catalyzed Alkylation of Indoles

Cyclopentadienone iron carbonyl complexes have been applied in alkylation of indoles with various benzylic alcohols, aliphatic alcohols (butanol, ethanol, methanol and 2-methylpentanol) via the hydrogen autotransfer strategy in mild reaction conditions. Experimental works highlight the role of the bifunctional iron complexes and the base. These iron complexes demonstrated a broad applicability in mild conditions and extended the scope of substrates in iron catalyzed C-C bond formation.