Indium(iii)-catalyzed intramolecular dearomative cycloaddition of N-sulfonylaziridines to indoles: facile synthesis of tetracyclic pyrroloindoline skeletons

Abstract

An indium(III)-catalyzed intramolecular dearomative cycloaddition of N-sulfonylaziridines to indoles has been developed, affording the divergent synthesis of rigid tetracyclic pyrroloindoline skeletons which are present in an array of fascinating natural products with interesting biological activities. In addition, in this reaction system, nonsubstituted indoles at the C3 position could smoothly react with N-sulfonylaziridines to form the desired dearomative cycloadducts for the first time.