The Selective Nickel‐Catalyzed N‐Allylation of C3‐Unprotected Indoles under Mild and Clean Conditions

A simple salt free and selective N‐allylation of indoles with allylic alcohols has been developed. The protocol uses a catalytic amount of a nickel complex generated in situ from Ni(cod)2 and dppf as diphosphine. The use of DMSO as the reaction solvent is crucial to control the regioselectivity of the reaction with the exclusive formation of the N‐allyl product among up to three possible products. Indoles are selectively N‐allylated according to a salt‐free nickel catalyzed reaction with allylic alcohols as co‐reagents. The use of DMSO as the reaction solvent is crucial to control the regioselectivity of the reaction with the exclusive formation of the N‐allyl product among up to three possible products.