Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of 2-Fluoroalkyl-3-methylene-3H-indoles Through a Domino Carbopalladation/C-H Activation Process

A novel palladium-catalyzed synthesis of substituted 3-methylene-3H-indoles from readily accessible alkynylimines has been developed. A wide variety of 2-fluoroalkyl-3-methylene-3H-indoles were synthesized in moderate to good yields through this cascade carbopalladation/C-H activation process. This reaction can also be expanded to non-fluorinated substrates.