Palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylative cyclization of benzyl chlorides with 2-nitroaryl alkynes to construct indole derivatives.

• Palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylative cyclization of benzyl chlorides with 2-nitroaryl alkynes. • A facile and efficient method for the assembly of indole skeletons. • Employing nitroarenes as the nitrogen source. • With Mo(CO) 6 as both the CO surrogate and the reductant. • A variety of indole derivatives were prepared in moderate to high yields. A palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylative cyclization of benzyl chlorides with 2-nitroaryl alkynes has been developed for the rapid construction of indole skeletons. The reaction utilized nitroarenes as the nitrogen source, Mo(CO) 6 as both the CO surrogate and the reductant to furnish various indole derivatives in moderate to high yields. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]