Recent Advances in the Electrochemical Synthesis and Functionalization of Indole Derivatives

Abstract

The chemists’ pursuit of the ideal synthesis and functionalization of indole derivatives has lasted over 150 years as their scaffolds have been widely found in natural products, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and organic materials. In this regard, the recent resurgence of adopting green and sustainable electrochemistry in organic synthesis suggests that electrosynthesis is a promising strategy. Indeed, many new intriguing applications of synthesis and functionalization of indole derivatives by direct and redox‐mediated electrochemical means have been disclosed. In this review, we highlight the fundamental aspects, reaction scopes, synthetic applications and reaction mechanisms of the electrochemical synthesis and functionalization of indole derivatives.

Electrocatalytic Dehydrogenative Cyclization of 2-Vinylanilides for the Synthesis of Indoles

“…This feature makes electrochemistry a highly attractive tool to address the “oxidant problem” . In this context, many electrochemical methods have been developed for the synthesis of heterocycles through dehydrogenative processes. − Related to this work, Wang and co-workers have reported iodide mediated electrochemical cyclization of 2-vinylanilides for the synthesis of indoles that bear no substituents at positions 2 and 3 (Scheme B) . With our continued interests in electrochemically driven radical reactions, − we report herein an electrocatalytic method for the synthesis of 3-substituted and 2,3-disubstituted indoles (Scheme C).…”

Nanocomposite Materials Based on Electrochemically Synthesized Graphene Polymers: Molecular Architecture Strategies for Sensor Applications

“…This avoids the loss of material and reduces steps such as filtration, washing, purification and others, and just involves the final deposition of the material onto the target substrate. For electrochemical sensors and capacitors, step-shortening results in a better cost/benefit ratio for the built device [37][38][39]. For example, in comparison with other coating techniques, such as dip, spin and spray coating, several steps of processing can result in low reproducibility and material waste [40].…”

Recent Studies of Bifunctionalization of Simple Indoles

“…During these years, Guinchard, [1e] Jia, [1f] Petrini [1g] and Bandini [1h] all collected the enantioselective indole transformations. Recently, both Gaich [1i] and Eycken [1j] depicted the light‐mediated chemistry of indoles, while the Ye [1k] reviewed the electrochemical functionalization of indoles.…”