Palladium-catalyzed cyclization of o-alkynyltrifluoroacetanilides followed by isocyanide insertion: synthesis of 2-substituted 1H-indole-3-carboxamides
An unprecedented palladium-catalyzed cyanation of aromatic C-H bonds by using tertiary amine derived isocyanide as a novel cyano source was developed. Cu(TFA)(2) was used as a requisite stoichiometric oxidant. Mechanistic studies suggest that a tertiary carbon cation-based intermediate Is involved following the C-N bond breakage.