coordination facilitated tunable reactivity between alkenylation and alkylation of indoles at the C4 C-H site is presented using readily accessible allylic alcohols in the presence of Rh catalysis by switching the additives or directing group. Exclusive site selectivity, functional group tolerance, and late-stage modifications are the important practical features.
Removable chelating group-assisted Ru-catalyzed distal C4–H allylation of indoles has been accomplished using vinylcyclopropanes as the allylating agent with broad substrate scope.