The N-acylation of indoles has been accomplished via inorganic base catalysis. It provided an efficient and simple catalysis system for the preparation of N-acylindoles with alkenyl carboxylates as acylating agents. A broad variety of indoles undergo the smooth N-acylation using Na₂CO₃ as catalyst in MeCN at 120 °C to give the corresponding N-acylindoles in good to excellent yields.

Palladium-catalyzed Wacker-type oxidation of N-Boc indoles for the synthesis of 3-oxyindolines has been developed. The palladium-catalyzed Wacker-type oxidation of N-Boc indoles can readily occur in MeCN using H₂O₂ as oxidant. And 3-oxyindolines were obtained in medium to high yield. Furtherly, the mechanism of palladium-catalyzed Wacker-type oxidation of N-Boc indoles was proposed.