Synthesis of Structurally Diverse 2,3-Fused Indoles via Microwave-Assisted AgSbF(6)-Catalysed Intramolecular Difunctionalization of o-Alkynylanilines

2,3-Fused indoles are found in numerous natural products and drug molecules. Although several elegant methods for the synthesis of this structural motif have been reported, long reaction times and harsh conditions are sometimes required, and the yields tend to be low. Herein, we report a microwave method for straightforward access to various types of 2,3-fused indoles via AgSbF(6)-catalysed intramolecular difunctionalization of o-alkynylanilines. AgSbF(6) played a role in both the hydroamination step and the imine-formation step. This method, which exhibited excellent chemoselectivity (no ring-fused 1,2-dihydroquinolines were formed), was used for formal syntheses of the natural products conolidine and ervaticine and the antihistamine drug latrepirdine.