Efficient Lewis acid-assisted Brønsted acid (LBA) catalysis in the iron-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of indoles.

Lewis acid-assisted Brønsted acid (LBA) catalysis was proposed for the iron-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with chalcones. This proposal was supported by the ESI-MS and cyclic voltammetry. The addition of acac to the iron-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with chalcones created a powerful catalytic system, which makes the alkylation reactions occur easily under mild conditions. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]