Reactant-induced photoactivation of in situ generated organogold intermediates leading to alkynylated indoles via Csp 2-Csp cross-coupling

Abstract

Dual photo- and metal-catalysis is generally not well-understood when the metal catalyst is a gold complex. Here the authors show that a variation of a known metallaphotoredox annulation is possible without an added photocatalyst, proceeding putatively through a gold–intermediate photosensitization by the aggregate of a potassium amide reactant, and yielding indole derivatives.