Pd-Catalyzed Deacylative [4 + 1] Annulation of N -Arylimidoyl Chlorides with β-Keto Esters Leading to 2-Fluoroalkyl Indoles.

A palladium-catalyzed [4 + 1] annulation of N -arylimidoyl chlorides with β-keto esters has been developed. In the presence of Pd(OAc) 2 , PCy 3 , and K 3 PO 4 , a variety of fluoalkyl-containing N -arylimidoyl chlorides smoothly underwent the cascade C-H imidoylation/deacylative Heck-type reactions to afford biologically important 2-fluoroalkyl indoles in moderate to good yields.