Rh-Catalyzed Hydroheteroarylation of Styrenes: Access to Alkylated Heteroarenes with All-Carbon Quaternary Centers

Heteroarenes are common moieties in pharmaceuticals and naturally bioactive compounds. In this work, an efficient and atom-economic rhodium and thiophenol co-catalyzed hydroheteroarylation of styrenes with heteroarenes is reported. Alkylated unprotected heteroarenes are accessed under low catalyst loading. This protocol provides straightforward access to indoles bearing an all-carbon quaternary center at the C3-position.