Copper-catalyzed direct coupling of benzoxazin-2-ones with indoles for the synthesis of diverse 3-indolylbenzoxazin-2-ones: access to natural cephalandole A

A novel and facile copper-catalyzed direct coupling for the synthesis of diverse and functionalized 3-indolyl benzoxazin-2-ones from benzoxazin-2-ones and indoles has been developed. This new methodology offers an easy and rapid approach to a variety of 3-indolylbenzo[b][1,4]oxazin-2-ones in high yield. As an application of this protocol, a gram-scale synthesis of naturally occurring cephalandole A has also been accomplished.