Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed atroposelective iodination of N-arylindoles

Abstract Axially chiral indoles have garnered significant attention due to their synthetic and biological importance. However, atroposelective halogenation of this scaffold has been rarely explored. This study presents a catalytic and enantioselective iodination of N-arylindoles, achieving precise c...

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Main Authors: Ahreum Kim, Hyun-A Cho, Byeongjun Oh, Jayoung Song, Yongseok Kwon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Communications Chemistry
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01584-1
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author Ahreum Kim
Hyun-A Cho
Byeongjun Oh
Jayoung Song
Yongseok Kwon
author_facet Ahreum Kim
Hyun-A Cho
Byeongjun Oh
Jayoung Song
Yongseok Kwon
author_sort Ahreum Kim
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Axially chiral indoles have garnered significant attention due to their synthetic and biological importance. However, atroposelective halogenation of this scaffold has been rarely explored. This study presents a catalytic and enantioselective iodination of N-arylindoles, achieving precise control over the C−N stereogenic axis. The reaction is facilitated by a chiral phosphoric acid, which promotes iodination at the C-3 position of N-arylindole, followed by iodine migration and deprotonation. A hydrogen-bonding donor on the aromatic ring plays a key role in achieving high enantioselectivities. Under optimized reaction conditions, a wide range of substrates are well-tolerated, and subsequent reactions with various carbonyl electrophiles maintain enantioselectivity. Computational studies provide insights into the origin of enantioselectivity at the plausible enantiodetermining step.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2399-3669
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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spelling doaj-art-43a9ee45413a4f0b90be221d2c29d3bc2025-08-20T02:10:34ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Chemistry2399-36692025-06-01811910.1038/s42004-025-01584-1Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed atroposelective iodination of N-arylindolesAhreum Kim0Hyun-A Cho1Byeongjun Oh2Jayoung Song3Yongseok Kwon4School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan UniversitySchool of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan UniversitySchool of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan UniversityCollege of Medicine, Dankook UniversitySchool of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan UniversityAbstract Axially chiral indoles have garnered significant attention due to their synthetic and biological importance. However, atroposelective halogenation of this scaffold has been rarely explored. This study presents a catalytic and enantioselective iodination of N-arylindoles, achieving precise control over the C−N stereogenic axis. The reaction is facilitated by a chiral phosphoric acid, which promotes iodination at the C-3 position of N-arylindole, followed by iodine migration and deprotonation. A hydrogen-bonding donor on the aromatic ring plays a key role in achieving high enantioselectivities. Under optimized reaction conditions, a wide range of substrates are well-tolerated, and subsequent reactions with various carbonyl electrophiles maintain enantioselectivity. Computational studies provide insights into the origin of enantioselectivity at the plausible enantiodetermining step.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01584-1
spellingShingle Ahreum Kim
Hyun-A Cho
Byeongjun Oh
Jayoung Song
Yongseok Kwon
Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed atroposelective iodination of N-arylindoles
Communications Chemistry
title Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed atroposelective iodination of N-arylindoles
title_full Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed atroposelective iodination of N-arylindoles
title_fullStr Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed atroposelective iodination of N-arylindoles
title_full_unstemmed Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed atroposelective iodination of N-arylindoles
title_short Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed atroposelective iodination of N-arylindoles
title_sort chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed atroposelective iodination of n arylindoles
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01584-1
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AT byeongjunoh chiralphosphoricacidcatalyzedatroposelectiveiodinationofnarylindoles
AT jayoungsong chiralphosphoricacidcatalyzedatroposelectiveiodinationofnarylindoles
AT yongseokkwon chiralphosphoricacidcatalyzedatroposelectiveiodinationofnarylindoles