The Fukuyama indole synthesis is a versatile tin mediated chemical reaction that results in the formation of 2,3-disubstituted indoles.[1] A practical one-pot reaction that can be useful for the creation of disubstituted indoles.[2] Most commonly tributyltin hydride is utilized as the reducing agent, with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as a radical initiator. Triethylborane can also be used as a radical initiator.[3] The reaction can begin with either an ortho-isocyanostyrene or a 2-alkenylthioanilide derivative, both forming the indole through Radical cyclization via an α-stannoimidoyl radical.[4] The R group can be a range of both basic and acidic sensitive functional groups such as esters, THP ethers, and β-lactams. In addition the reaction is not stereospecific, in that both the cis and trans isoform can be used to obtain the desired product.[5]
![Fukuyama Indole Synthesis with either starting material.](../I/Fukuyama_Indole_Synthesis_Showing_Both_Potential_Starting_Reagents.png.webp)
Mechanism
The reaction mechanism begins with the creation of the tributyl tin radical with either AIBN or triethylborane, not shown in either step-wise mechanism. Following the radical attacks the o-isocyano carbon creating the alpha-stannoimidoyl radical. Through radical cyclization a five membered ring is formed followed by the propagation of a new tin radical. The final step is dependent on the desired outcome of the reaction. This reaction is a one-pot synthesis and results in yields ranging from 50% to 98% depending on the substituent.[1]
![Step-wise mechanism of Fukuyama Indole Synthesis starting with the Isocyano substituent.](../I/Fukuyama_Indole_Synthesis_Mechanism_with_an_Isocyano_Group.png.webp)
The mechanism using 2-alkenylthioanilide is very similar, also starting with the formation of a bond, now between the tin radical and the sulfur. Followed by a similar radical cyclization resulting in a five membered ring, a new tin radical is produced and the original attacking radical leaves with the sulfur substituent. This part of the step-wise mechanism has yet to be detailed. The reaction yield can range from 40% to 93% depending also on the desired substituent.
![Step-wise mechanism of the Fukuyama Indole Synthesis starting with the alkenylthioanilide substituent.](../I/Fukuyama_Indole_Synthesis_Mechanism_with_Alkenylthioanilide_Group.png.webp)
Derivatives
The Fukuyama Indole synthesis can generate a range of different substituents at the 2,3 position that were previously unattainable without a protecting group on the nitrogen in the ring. One such example is the 2-iodoindole derivative, which can then lead to a variety of N-unprotected 2,3 substituted indoles. Before the discovery of this compound the chemistry involving 2-stannylindoles was not developed as there was no way to practically synthesize these N-unprotected 2,3-stannylindoles. One was limited to the production of N-protected 2-stannylindoles through metalation by a process known as Stille coupling.[6] The N-unprotected 2-stannylindoles generated from the Fukuyama Synthesis can be readily oxidized with iodine opening up an area of chemistry that allows for the synthesis of a variety compounds utilizing the 2-iodoindoles as a starting reagent. This iodine substituted derivative can lead to aryl halides, vinyl iodides, vinyl triflates, benzyl bromides.
![Example Reaction for Fukuyama Synthesis.](../I/Fukuyama_Indole_Synthesis_Example_with_Iodine_as_Substituent.png.webp)
In addition to acetylenes (Sonogashira coupling), and acrylates (Heck reaction) in the second position.[5]
![Possible next step synthesis reactions working with the 2-iodoindoles from the Fukuyama Synthesis.](../I/Possible_Next_Step_Reaction_with_2-iodoindoles.png.webp)
Applications
The synthesis is one of the simplest methods for creating poly-substituted indoles, this procedure has been utilized in numerous natural product syntheses, including aspidophytine,[7] vinblastine,[8] and strychnine[9]
Shown below is the fourth step in the synthesis of (+)-Vinblastine, the application of the Fukuyama Indole synthesis to create a disubstituted indole.
![Sample Fukuyama Indole Reaction Step in the Synthesis of Vinblastine](../I/Sample_Fukuyama_Indole_Reaction_Step_in_the_Synthesis_of_Vinblastine.png.webp)
In addition, the fukuyama reaction plays a role in the syntheses of indolocarbazoles,[5] biindolyls,[5] and the total synthesis of vincadifformine and tabersonine.[10]
References
- 1 2 Fukuyama, T.; Chen, X.; Peng, G. (1994). "A Novel Tin-Mediated Indole Synthesis". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 116 (7): 3127–8. doi:10.1021/ja983681v.
- ↑ Pindur, U.; Adam, R. (1998). "Synthetically attractive indolization processes and newer methods for the preparation of selectively substituted indoles". J. Heterocycl. Chem. 25 (1): 1–8. doi:10.1002/jhet.5570250101.
- ↑ Tokuyama, H.; Yamashita, T.; Reding, M. T.; Kaburagi, Y.; Fukuyama, T. (1999). "Radical Cyclization of 2-Alkenylthioanilides: A Novel Synthesis of 2,3-Disubstituted Indoles". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 121 (15): 3791–2. doi:10.1021/ja983681v.
- ↑ Gribble, G. (2000). "Recent developments in indole ring synthesis—methodology and applications". J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 1. 2000 (7): 1045–75. doi:10.1039/a909834h.
- 1 2 3 4 Kobayashi, T.; Fukuyama, T. (1998). "Development of a novel indole synthesis". J. Heterocycl. Chem. 35 (5): 1043–56. doi:10.1002/jhet.5570350504.
- ↑ Trost, B. M.; Fortunak, J. M. (1982). "Cyclizations initiated by a Pd2+-Ag+ mixed-metal system". Organometallics. 1 (7): 7–10. doi:10.1021/om00061a003.
- ↑ Sumi, S.; Matsumoto, K.; Tokuyama, H.; Fukuyama, T. (2003). "Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Aspidophytine". Org. Lett. 5 (11): 1891–3. doi:10.1021/ol034445e. PMID 12762679.
- ↑ Yokoshima, S.; Ueda, T.; Kobayashi, S.; Sato, A.; Kuboyama, T.; Tokuyama, H.; Fukuyama, T. (2002). "Stereocontrolled Total Synthesis of (+)-Vinblastine". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 124 (10): 2137–9. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.414.6638. doi:10.1021/ja0177049. PMID 11878966.
- ↑ Kaburagi, Y.; Tokuyama, H.; Fukuyama, T. (2004). "Total Synthesis of (−)-Strychnine". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 126 (33): 10246–7. doi:10.1021/ja046407b. PMID 15315428.
- ↑ Kobayashi, S.; Peng, G.; Fukuyama, T. (1999). "Efficient total syntheses of (±)-vincadifformine and (−)-tabersonine". Tetrahedron Lett. 40 (8): 1519–22. doi:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)02667-7.