A short synthesis of the endogenous plant metabolite 7-hydroxyoxindole-3-acetic acid (7-OH-OxIAA) using simultaneous C–H borylations

Methyl indole-3-acetate undergoes two simultaneous iridium-catalysed borylations to deliver exclusively 2,7-diboronate, with the ligand 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Me4Phen) pivotal in driving the diborylation to completion. Subsequent oxidation-hydrolysis of the diboronate provides methyl 7-hydroxyoxindole-3-acetate which upon hydrolysis of the ester delivers 7-OH-OxIAA, an antioxidant, endogenous metabolite of indole-3-acetic acid found in various types of corn. This route has an overall yield of 50%, involves a single chromatographic purification and is an efficient alternative to existing syntheses, made possible by executing simultaneous oxidations at the indole C2 and C7 sites.