Mild Synthesis of Polyfunctional Benzimidazoles and Indoles by the Reduction of Functionalized Nitroarenes with Phenylmagnesium Chloride

Abstract
Phenylmagnesium chloride has been used for the conversion of selected nitroarenes into nitrenes. Their insertion into a neighboring sp2 CH bond yielded functionalized heterocycles. A novel and mild synthesis of polyfunctional benzimidazoles and indoles is described.