Cobalt catalysed cross-dehydrogenative coupling of indoles: a photoinduced ligand to metal charge transfer process

Abstract

We demonstrate the participation of cobalt in a photoinduced ligand-to-metal charge transfer process, which leads to the formation of ligand-based radical species and enables both homo and hetero cross-dehydrogenative coupling of indoles with decent yield at room temperature. This photo-induced LMCT process is substantiated by a series of mechanistic investigations.