Selective C-Methylenation of N-Unsubstituted Indoles Using CO2 Under NaBH4/I2 System

Abstract

The selective C-methylenation of N-unsubstituted indoles using CO₂ as the C1 source to access diindolylmethane (DIM) and its derivatives is described. This reaction provides a novel method for four-electron reductive functionalization of CO₂ with N-unsubstituted indoles via formation of C−CH₂−C bonds, and a new access to molecular structures.