Indoles from scratch: A gold(I)/N-heterocyclic carbene complex (IPr=1,3-di(isopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) was found to be particularly effective as a catalyst, enabling the one-pot synthesis of tricyclic azepinoindoles by an unprecedented cascade reaction. Readily available substrates, high chemoselectivity, good yields, and water as the only stoichiometric by-product are some of the main advantages of this method.
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