Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed 1,2-Rearrangements of 3-Hydroxyindolenines to Indoxyls and 2-Oxindoles: Reagent-Controlled Regioselectivity Enabled by Dual Activation
A common synthetic route to indoxyl and 2-oxindole alkaloids utilizes the oxidation of indoles to 3-hydroxyindolenines, followed by acid-mediated 1,2-rearrangement. However, controlling the regioselectivity is often challenging and there is an ongoing need for new reaction conditions allowing to steer product selectivity. We report herein that phosphoric acids are ideal organocatalysts for the highly regioselective 1,2-rearrangement of 3-hydroxyindolenines to 2-oxindoles, with predictable product selectivity arising from an efficient dual activation mode.