One-Pot Reaction between N-Tosylhydrazones and 2-Nitrobenzyl Bromide: Route to NH-Free C2-Arylindoles.

A one-pot Barluenga coupling between N-tosylhydrazones and nitro-benzyl bromide, followed by deoxygenation of ortho-nitrostyrenes, and subsequent cyclization has been developed, providing a new way to synthesize various C2-arylindoles. This method exhibits a good substrate scope and functional group tolerance, and it allows an access to NH-free indoles, which can present a potential utility in medicinal chemistry applications.