Intramolecular Construction of Trifluoromethyl Group by the Palladium-Catalyzed Alkylation of 2,3,3-Trifluoroallylic Carbonates with Indoles.

The palladium-catalyzed alkylation reaction of 2,3,3-trifluoroallylic carbonates with indoles afforded a trifluoromethyl group possessing 3-substituted indole derivatives. The reaction proceeded via attack of the C-3 carbon of the indoles onto the C-2 position of the allylic moiety and intramolecular construction of the trifluoromethyl group by the intramolecular fluorine atom shift from the C-2 position to the C-3 position of the allyl unit.