Green oxidation of indoles using halide catalysis

Jun Xu, Lixin Liang, Haohao Zheng, Yonggui Robin Chi and Rongbiao Tong ()
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Jun Xu: Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Lixin Liang: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology(HKUST)
Haohao Zheng: Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Yonggui Robin Chi: Nanyang Technological University(NTU)
Rongbiao Tong: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology(HKUST)

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Oxidation of indoles is a fundamental organic transformation to deliver a variety of synthetically and pharmaceutically valuable nitrogen-containing compounds. Prior methods require the use of either organic oxidants (meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid, N-bromosuccinimide, t-BuOCl) or stoichiometric toxic transition metals [Pb(OAc)4, OsO4, CrO3], which produced oxidant-derived by-products that are harmful to human health, pollute the environment and entail immediate purification. A general catalysis protocol using safer oxidants (H2O2, oxone, O2) is highly desirable. Herein, we report a unified, efficient halide catalysis for three oxidation reactions of indoles using oxone as the terminal oxidant, namely oxidative rearrangement of tetrahydro-β-carbolines, indole oxidation to 2-oxindoles, and Witkop oxidation. This halide catalysis protocol represents a general, green oxidation method and is expected to be used widely due to several advantageous aspects including waste prevention, less hazardous chemical synthesis, and sustainable halide catalysis.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12768-4

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