A procedure that converts a series of structurally diverse, readily available indole derivatives to their corresponding indolequinones is described. The three-step route commences with an iridium catalyzed C-H borylation to give a 7-borylindole that upon oxidation-hydrolysis affords the 7-hydroxyindole. Subsequent oxidation provides the indolequinone.

Readily available 3-substituted indoles undergo a one-pot iridium-catalyzed triborylation at the C2, C5, and C7 sites. 1 H NMR analysis indicates borylation at C2 and C7 occurs first (no monoborylated product is observed), with the third borylation occurring as a separate, distinct step that is sterically directed to C5 by a combination of the substituent at C3 and the boronate at C7. The resulting tetrasubstituted indoles possess a substitution pattern that is cumbersome to prepare using existing methods.

A one-pot conversion of 3-substituted indoles into their 5,7-diboryl derivatives is reported. The simultaneous functionalization of the C5-H and C7-H sites is achieved using an iridium-catalyzed triborylation-protodeborylation sequence. The 5,7-diborylindoles are useful intermediates that can be readily derivatized into a variety of indoles possessing the rare 3,5,7-trisubstitution pattern, including the natural product (+)-plakohypaphorine C.

7-Borylindoles undergo a one-pot oxidative hydrolysis-oxidative cleavage process to give o-amidophenols, that in turn undergo facile cyclisation to give 4-acylbenzoxazoles.