Base-Catalyzed Nucleophilic Addition Reaction of Indoles with Vinylene Carbonate: An Approach to Synthesize 4-Indolyl-1,3-dioxolanones.

The N -functionalized indole is a privileged structural framework in a wide range of bioactive molecules. The nucleophilic addition between indoles with vinylene carbonate proceeded smoothly in the presence of K 2 CO 3 as the catalyst to produce novel indolyl-containing skeletons and 4-indolyl-1,3-dioxolanones in satisfactory to excellent yields (up to >97% yield). Various synthetically useful functional groups, such as halogen atoms, cyano, nitro, and methoxycarbonyl groups, remained intact during the regioselective N -H addition reactions. The developed catalytic system also could accommodate 2-naphthalenol to achieve the target O-H additive product in good yield.