Unlocking a self-catalytic cycle in a copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative coupling/cyclization reaction

Presented here is a copper-catalyzed, aerobic oxidative C-H/C-H cyclization reaction, which occurs by cleaving the C-H and N-H bonds of 3-phenylindoles. A broad range of 3-phenylindoles can be well tolerated to produce the indole-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in good to excellent yields. An evaluation of the reaction mechanism is enabled by the isolation of the di- and tri-indole intermediates, highlighting the role of the substrate for this catalytic reaction. The results of these controlled experiments and kinetic studies provide solid experimental support for a self-catalysis reaction, which has rarely been observed in oxidative C-H activation reactions. Additional mechanistic studies indicate that the substrate for this reaction accelerates by the following mechanism: The substrate combines with the Cu catalyst to transform the less active di-indole intermediate into a tri-indole intermediate. This intermediate is quickly converted into the desired product along with regeneration of the substrate copper complex.