Palladium-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of tertiary enamines for synthesis of 1,3,4-trisubstituted pyrroles and 1,3-disubstituted indoles.

A novel and efficient palladium-catalyzed intramolecular oxidative cyclization of tertiary enamines for the synthesis of 1,3,4-trisubstituted pyrroles and 1,3-disubstituted indoles has been developed. Trifluoroacetic acid plays an important role in the reaction. A series of pyrroles and indoles with substitution patterns that are not easily accessible by traditional routes were synthesized in good yields under mild conditions.