Lewis Acid Promoted Regioselective Double Hydro(hetero)arylation of 6,6′-Dialkyl-Substituted Pentafulvenes: A Facile Approach to Bisindole Derivatives

Abstract

A Lewis acid catalyzed double hydro(hetero)arylation of alkyl-substituted pentafulvenes for the synthesis of bisindolesubstituted cyclopentenoids has been developed. The scope of the reaction was explored with a wide range of indoles and pentafulvenes, and mechanistic insights were obtained. In addi-tion, we have also demonstrated a hydro(hetero)arylation–dehydroxylation reaction of 2-hydroxy-substituted pentafulvenes to afford bisindole derivatives with isoprenyl-substituted cyclopentene moieties.