Copper-catalyzed C-H oxidation/cross-coupling of α-amino carbonyl compounds.

Keeping options open: the new and mild title reaction involving indoles selectively furnishes 1 and 2 with the aid of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). The method represents the first example of a copper-catalyzed α arylation of α-amino carbonyl substrates leading to α-aryl α-imino and α-aryl α-oxo carbonyl compounds using a C-H oxidation strategy.