CF3-Carbenoid functionalization of N-(pyrimidin-2-yl)indole catalyzed by cobalt complexes: Ligand control of selectivity

The carbonyl cobalt complex Cp*Co(CO)I2 catalyzes carbenoid Co alkylation of N-(pyrimidin-2-yl)indole with methyl 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-diazopropionate regioselectively giving 2-substituted indole, while the N,N’-ligated cations [CpCo(L)I]+ (L = bipy, phen) provide 3-substitution exclusively. The structure of [CpCo(phen)I]PF6 was investigated by X-ray diffraction.[Figure presented] © 2018