Oxidative three-component 1,2-alkylarylation of alkenes with alkyl nitriles and N-heteroarenes

An indium-promoted intermolecular oxidative 1,2-alkylarylation of alkenes with alkyl nitriles and N-heteroarenes enabled by C(sp3)-H/C(sp2)-H functionalization is presented. This oxidative radical strategy allows the formation of two new C-C bonds through transformations of two different C-H bonds across the alkenes in a controlled single-step manner, and offers a general, highly atom-economic route for the production of new functionalized N-heteroarenes, including indoles, pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine, pyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinolone and pyrroles.