A general direct arylation of polyfluoroarenes with heteroaryl and aryl chlorides catalyzed by palladium indolylphosphine complexes.

The first general examples of direct coupling of heteroaryl chlorides, especially substituted 2-pyridyl chlorides which were previously found to be problematic, with electron-deficient polyfluoroarenes are reported. Pd(OAc)2 associated with 3-(dicyclohexylphosphino)-2-phenylindole L1 serves as the effective catalyst which allows the challenging direct coupling of heteroaryl chlorides and polyfluoroarenes. In addition to heterocycles, a wide range of non-activated and activated aryl chlorides and alkenyl chlorides were also applicable under this catalyst system.

Regioselective C2 sulfonylation of indoles mediated by molecular iodine.

A facile and general method for regioselective C2 sulfonylation reaction of indoles mediated by iodine is described. The 2-sulfonylated products were obtained up to 96% yield under mild reaction conditions (room temperature, 2 h).