Synthesis of 3-Iodoindoles by Electrophilic Cyclization of N,N-Dialkyl-2-(1-alkynyl)anilines

[reaction: see text] A wide variety of N-alkyl-3-iodoindoles are readily prepared under very mild reaction conditions by the palladium/copper-catalyzed cross-coupling of N,N-dialkyl-o-iodoanilines and terminal alkynes, followed by electrophilic cyclization by I(2)(). Alkyl-, aryl-, and vinylic-substituted alkynes all undergo iodocyclization in excellent yields.