Metal-free oxidative trifluoromethylation of indoles with CF 3 SO 2 Na on the C2 position.

An efficient method of synthesizing 2-trifluoromethylindoles from indoles with easy-to-handle, cheap and low-toxic CF 3 SO 2 Na under metal-free conditions is described, which selectively introduces trifluoromethyl to indoles on the C2 position. The desired product can be obtained in 0.7 g yield. A radical intermediate may be involved in this transformation.