The benzyne Fischer-indole reaction.

A new approach to the Fischer-indole synthesis is reported that uses the reactive intermediate benzyne. The addition of N-tosyl hydrazones to arynes, generated through fluoride activation of 2-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl triflate precursors, leads to efficient N-arylation. Addition of a Lewis acid to the same reaction pot then affords N-tosylindole products via Fischer cyclization.