Catalyst-Dependent Stereodivergent and Regioselective Synthesis of Indole-Fused Heterocycles through Formal Cycloadditions of Indolyl-Allenes

Stereo- and regioselective construction of poly-heterocycles, especially those with several contiguous stereocenters, is still a challenge. In this paper, catalyst-dependent stereodivergent and regioselective synthesis of indole-fused heterocycles through formal cycloadditions of indolyl-allenes has been developed. The reaction features total reversion of an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter when a gold or platinum complex was employed as the catalyst through [3 + 2] cycloaddition of allene with indole, affording different diazabenzo­[a]­cyclopenta­[cd]­azulenes as epimers, respectively. In addition, in the presence of IPrAuCl and AgNTf2, highly regioselective exo-type [2 + 2] cycloaddition was observed, in which allene served as a 2C synthon. This methodology provides a simple and straightforward approach for the construction of indole-fused tricyclic systems under mild conditions in an atom-economical way.