A practical protocol to synthesize 3-substituent-2-(azol-1-yl)­indole derivatives has been developed via an electrochemical oxidative cross coupling process under mild conditions. This electro-oxidative C–N bond formation strategy tolerates a range of functional groups and is amenable to gram scale synthesis. Moreover, this method was applied to the late-stage functionalization of bioactive molecules.

A general and practical protocol for electrochemisty-controlled dearomative 2,3-difunctionalization of indoles via electrochemically anode-selective oxidative cross coupling has been demonstrated. The reaction runs under metal, oxidant and catalyst free condition,...