Surfactant-Aided Chiral Palladium(II) Catalysis Exerted Exclusively in Water for the C-H Functionalization of Indoles

The electrophilic palladation of indoles through C-H bond functionalization with the aid of surfactant was achieved in water in a highly enantioselective manner. The system displayed attractive features that are reminiscent of both precious-metal catalysis and micellar catalysis. The palladium (II) catalyst entangled with a surfactant did not respond to commonly recognized phosphine-based ligand but to 2,2'-bipyridine L1. The insights gained from this unique set of palladium(II) catalysts demonstrate the potential of further applications toward this novel mode of chemical transformation.