An Ir-Pt catalyst for the multistep preparation of functionalized indoles from the reaction of amino alcohols and alkynyl alcohols.

The 1,2,4-trimethyltriazolylidene (ditz) ligand allows the preparation of homo- and heterodimetallic complexes of Pt(2) and Ir-Pt. These two complexes have been characterized by means of spectroscopic and diffractommetric techniques. The catalytic activity of these complexes, together with that of other Pt-based compounds, has been explored in the cyclization-addition of alkynyl alcohols and indoles. The Ir-Pt complex [{PtI(2)(py)}(μ-ditz){IrI(2)(Cp*)}] (py=pyridine; Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) allows the combination of an iridium-mediated oxidative cyclization of 2-(ortho-aminophenyl)ethanol to form indoles, with a further step employing a Pt-based multistep reaction that functionalizes indoles. Our results show that the Ir-Pt complex is a very active catalyst in this new multistep preparation of functionalized indoles from the reaction of an amino alcohol with alkynyl alcohols.