Highly position selective alkylations of N‐alkylindoles at C7‐positions have been enabled by cationiczirconiumcomplexes. The strategy provides a straightforward access to install alkyl groups at C7‐positions of indoles without a complexdirectinggroup. Mechanistic studies provided support for the importance of Brønstedacids in the catalyticmanifold.
A highly efficient Co-catalyzed enantioselective alkylation of alkenes with indoles, thiophenes and electron rich arenes has been developed. This is the first CoH-catalyzed asymmetric hydrofunctionalization using carbon nucleophiles via hydrogen atom transfer.