Synthesis of 3-arylated indolines from dearomatization of indoles

The introduction of aryl motifs at the C3-position of indole nuclei via dearomatization reactions has been the subject of intensive efforts in the last years and has culminated in several total syntheses of natural products. We provide in this digest Letter an overview of these recent advances including ours and we will highlight the fact that indoles could indeed act as nucleophiles but also as electrophiles and could be involved in radical reactions. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.