Surfactant-Aided Chiral Palladium(II) Catalysis Exerted Exclusively in Water for the C–H Functionalization of Indoles

The electrophilic palladation of indoles through C–H bond functionalization with the aid of surfactant was achieved in water in a highly enantioselective manner. The system displayed attractive features that are reminiscent of both precious-metal catalysis and micellar catalysis. The palladium­(II) catalyst entangled with a surfactant did not respond to commonly recognized phosphine-based ligand but to 2,2′-bipyridine L1. The insights gained from this unique set of palladium­(II) catalysts demonstrate the potential of further applications toward this novel mode of chemical transformation.