N-Halosuccinimide enables cascade oxidative trifluorination and halogenative cyclization of tryptamine-derived isocyanides

Both the pyrroloindoline core and N-CF₃ moiety hold significant importance in medicinal chemistry. However, to date, no instances of constructing N-CF₃-containing pyrroloindolines have been reported. Herein, we present a robust and operationally simple approach to assembling such intriguing skeletons from tryptamine-derived isocyanides through a cascade sequence, which includes an oxidative trifluorination and a subsequent halogenative cyclization. Key to the success lies in the development of a facile conversion of isocyanides to N-CF₃ moiety with commercially available reagents N-halosuccinimide and Et₃N·HF. The protocol features mild reaction conditions, broad functional group tolerance, good to excellent yields, and high diastereoselectivities. In addition, we demonstrate that the halide substituent within the products serves as a versatile functional handle for accessing diverse C3-quaternary-substituted N-CF₃-pyrroloindolines.