Gold(I)-catalyzed sequential cycloisomerization/bis-addition of o-ethynylanilines: an efficient access to bis(indolyl)methanes and di(indolyl)indolin-2-ones

An efficient synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes and di(indolyl)indolin-2-ones has been developed by a sequential approach involving gold(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization/bis-addition of o-ethynylanilines with various aldehydes and isatins, respectively. This methodology opens clean and synthetically competitive alternative to the already established procedures of the synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes and di(indolyl)indolin-2-ones.