A facile method for the synthesis of pyrrolo[2,3-j]phenanthridines from indoleanilines and aldehydes in the presence of Brønsted acid catalyst and benzoquinone oxidant has been established. This approach features excellent yields, high efficiency and a wide range of substrate scope. Mechanism studies exhibited that this reaction was a cascade process including acid-catalyzed condensation of indoleanilines
Mild and facile preparations of 2-substituted or 2,3-disubstituted indole compounds were achieved by RhH(CO)(Ph3P)3 (4−10 mol %)-catalyzed reaction of N-propargylanilines in hexafluoroisopropyl alcohol (HFIP). The formation of indoles was proven to be derived from an o-allenylaniline intermediate, which was generated by the Rh(I)-catalyzed amino-Claisen rearrangement of N-propargylanilines. The catalytic