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.