Synthesis of Substituted Anilines from Cyclohexanones Using Pd/C–Ethylene System and Its Application to Indole Synthesis

The synthesis of anilines and indoles from cyclohexanones using a Pd/C-ethylene system is reported. A simple combination of NH₄OAc and K₂CO₃ under nonaerobic conditions was found to be the most suitable to perform this reaction. Hydrogen transfer between cyclohexanone and ethylene generates the desired products. The reaction tolerates a variety of substitutions on the starting cyclohexanones.