This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art procedures in terms of the preparation of N-arylindoles. After a short introduction, the transition-metal-free procedures available for the N-arylation of indoles are briefly discussed. Then, the nickel-catalyzed and palladium-catalyzed N-arylation of indoles are both discussed. In the next section, copper-catalyzed procedures for the N-arylation of indoles are described. The final section focuses on recent findings in the field of biologically active N-arylindoles.

We report a novel process for the preparation of 2-substituted cyclobutanones. Such a method relies on the cross-coupling reaction of bromocyclobutenyl diethyl phosphate with either boronic acids or organozinc reagents. Dephosphorylation of the prepared 2-substituted cyclobutenyl phosphates affords 2substituted cyclobutanones. We observed that the course of the dephosphorylation reaction depends on the properties of the substituents found on the cyclobutene nucleus. The presence of groups capable of stabilizing the negative charge is necessary for ring opening of cyclobutanones. The scope of the reported process for the preparation of 2-substituted cyclobutanones has also been extended to the preparation of cyclobutenyl sulfides.

We studied the reactions of vinyl phosphates and vinyl phosphordiamidates containing an ester functional group with organometallic reagents.

A new method for the preparation of halocyclobutenes has been developed. The developed process relies on halocyclobutanols dehydrated by means of tetrafluoroboric acid in dichloromethane at room temperature. The process allows for high yields of halocyclobutenes to be achieved with alcohols that do not trigger the formation of isomeric allylic halides.