Antony J. Davies

A novel approach to 3-methylindoles by a Heck/cyclization/isomerization process.

A novel synthesis of 3-methylindoles from chlorotriflates through a Heck reaction, carbamate/aryl chloride coupling, and isomerization sequence is presented. The three-step sequence is highly efficient and general, enabling the regiocontrolled synthesis of substituted indoles in short order.

A Facile Synthesis of Substituted Phenylglycines

Abstract A convenient scaleable process for the preparation of substituted phenylglycines 2 by a modified Strecker reaction is described. Bisulfite-mediated addition of benzylamine and cyanide anion to substituted benzaldehydes 3 gave the aminonitriles 4 which were hydrolysed in two steps to the N-protected amino acid 1. Debenzylation using catalytic transfer hydrogenation gave the title compounds in good yield.