A series of substituted 5-, 6-, and 7-azaindoles were prepared via the Hemetsberger-Knittel
reaction. In general, better yields were obtained at higher temperatures and shorter
reaction times than required for the formation of the analogous indoles, and in some
cases, only decomposition occurred below a minimum temperature. The resulting templates
offer up to five sites for subsequent functionalization to allow a wide range of chemical
diversity.
Hemetsberger-Knittel reaction - azaindoles - thermolysis - cyclization - template