Iodine-Catalyzed C-H Amidation and Imination at the 2α-Position of 2,3-Disubstituted Indoles with Chloramine Salts.

A novel iodine-catalyzed amidation and imination at the 2α-position of 2,3-disubstituted indoles in the presence of chloramine salts with high regioselectivity has been achieved. The protocol is applicable to a wide range of substrates to deliver the corresponding 2α-nitrogen-containing indole derivatives. Furthermore, to demonstrate the synthetic value of this established transformation, a concise assembly of the bridged tetracyclic framework of akuammiline alkaloids from the 2α-amidated product has been accomplished in five steps.