An interrupted Ugi reaction enables the preparation of substituted indoxyls and aminoindoles

In a variation of the classical Ugi reaction, an acid-promoted reaction between imines and isocyanides forms both 3-aminoindoles and substituted indoxyls. A recently reported triflyl phosphoramide is shown to he critical to obtain high yields under mild conditions. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.