SummaryThe synthesis of N-arylated pyrroles and indoles is documented, as well as their functionalization by deprotonative metallation using the base in situ prepared from LiTMP and ZnCl2·TMEDA (1/3 equiv). With N-phenylpyrrole and -indole, the reactions were carried out in hexane containing TMEDA which regioselectively afforded the 2-iodo derivatives after subsequent iodolysis. With pyrroles and indoles bearing N-substituents such as 2-thienyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-methoxyphenyl and 4-bromophenyl, the reactions all took place on the substituent, at the position either adjacent to the heteroatom (S, N) or ortho to the heteroatom-containing substituent (OMe, Br). The CH acidities of the substrates were determined in THF solution using the DFT B3LYP method in order to rationalize the experimental results.

Five protocols were first compared for the copper-catalyzed C-N bond formation between 7-azaindole and aryl/heteroaryl iodides/bromides. The 1-arylated 7-azaindoles thus obtained were subjected to deprotometalation-iodolysis sequences using lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide as the base and the corresponding zinc diamide as an in situ trap. The reactivity of the substrate was discussed in light of the calculated atomic charges and the pKa values. The behavior of the 1-arylated 7-azaindoles in direct iodination was then studied, and the results explained by considering the HOMO orbital coefficients and the atomic charges. Finally, some of the iodides generated, generally original, were involved in the N-arylation of indole. While crystallographic data were collected for fifteen of the synthesized compounds, biological properties (antimicrobial, antifungal and antioxidant activity) were evaluated for others.