Reductive heterocyclizations via indium–iodine-promoted conversion of 2-nitroaryl imines or 2-nitroarenes to 2,3-diaryl-substituted indazoles

While N-(2-nitrobenzylidene)anilines produced mixtures of 2,1-benzisoxazoles and 3-anilino-2-aryl-2H-indazoles in the presence of indium and iodine in MeOH, N-(2-nitrobenzylidene)anilines were transformed into 3-anilino-2-aryl-2H-indazoles as the predominant major product through the change of the solvent from protic MeOH to aprotic THF. In an indium-mediated one-pot reductive reaction, 2-benzaldehydes and anilines in THF were also successfully transformed into the corresponding indazoles.