A new synthesis of 2-substituted pyridines via aluminum chloride induced heteroarylation of arenes and heteroarenes.

[reaction: see text] We herein report a new synthesis of 2-(hetero)aryl-substituted pyridines via heteroarylation of arenes/heteroarenes through AlCl(3)-induced C-C bond-forming reactions. 2-Halopyridines bearing an electron-withdrawing group were reacted with a number of (hetero)arenes to give 2-aryl/heteroaryl-substituted pyridines in good yields.

A direct access to 3-(2-Oxoalkyl)indoles via aluminum chloride induced C-C bond formation.

3-Methylindole is acylated regioselectively at the methyl group when treated with a variety of acyl chlorides in 1,2-dichloroethane in the presence of AlCl(3), affording a mild and direct method for the synthesis of 3-(2-oxoalkyl)indoles. The product formation in this one-pot reaction largely depends on the conditions of the reaction employed. The methodology does not require protection-deprotection steps and is amenable for the scale-up synthesis of these indole derivatives.