Regioselectivity of Larock heteroannulation: a contribution from electronic properties of diarylacetylenes.

A series of 2,3-diarylindoles were synthesized from 2-iodoaniline and unsymmetrical diarylacetylenes using the Larock heteroannulation. Diarylacetylenes bearing electron-withdrawing substituents lead to 2,3-diarylindoles with substituted phenyl moieties at the 2-position as major products, while those with electron-donating groups preferably yield indole products with substituted phenyl moieties at the 3-position. The regioisomeric product ratios exhibit a clear correlation with Hammett σ(p) values. DFT calculations reveal the origin of this effect, displaying smaller activation energy barriers for those pathways leading to the major regioisomer.