PIFA/Ar₂Te₂-Mediated Synthesis of 3-Aryltelluroindoles via Intramolecular Cyclization of 2-Alkynylanilines

The reaction of 2-alkynylanilines with phenyliodonium bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA) and diaryl ditellurides was found to conveniently afford the corresponding 3-aryltelluroindoles via oxidative cyclization/tellurolation. A plausible mechanism involving the in situ formation of the reactive ArTeOCOCF3 from the reaction of PIFA and diaryl ditellurides, and the subsequent oxidative C-N/C-Te bond formations was postulated.