Iodine-Mediated Oxidative Cyclization of 2-(Pyridin-2-yl)acetate Derivatives with Alkynes: Condition-Controlled Selective Synthesis of Multisubstituted Indolizines

Abstract

An iodine-mediated oxidative cyclization reaction between 2-(pyridin-2-yl)acetate derivatives and different alkynes has been developed, which provides regioselective and chemoselective syntheses of multiply substituted indolizines under modified reaction conditions. Plausible mechanisms have been proposed to explain the selective syntheses of indolizines. This protocol can be also applied to the stepwise synthesis of 2,2′-biindolizines.