Access to 2-Arylindoles via Decarboxylative C-C Coupling in Aqueous Medium and to Heteroaryl Carboxylates under Base-Free Conditions using Diaryliodonium Salts

Easily accessible heteroaromatic carboxylic acids and diaryliodonium salts were successfully employed to construct valuable 2-arylindoles and heteroaryl carboxylates in a regioselective fashion. C2-arylated indoles were produced using a Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative strategy in water without any base, oxidant, or ligand. Heteroaryl carboxylates were prepared under metal and base-free conditions. This protocol was successfully utilized to synthesize Paullone, a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor.