Abstract The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of 2-bromonitrobenzenes or 2- bromoacetanilides with ethylene has been used to produce a variety of substituted indoles. The mild reaction conditions and selectivity inherent in the coupling reaction have been utilized to produce regiochemically pure 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-substituted indoles.
[Kametani, Tetsuji; Ohsawa, Tatsushi; Ihara, Masataka Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1: Organic and Bio-Organic Chemistry (1972-1999), 1981 , p. 290 - 294]