One-Step Transformation of Aryl Diazonium Salts into Aryl Indium(III) Reagents

A method for the conversion of diazonium salts into intrinsically nucleophilic aryl indium reagents is described. The reaction is performed using indium­(I) bromide with the C–In bond being formed by the interaction of aryl radicals with the indium salt. The obtained aryl indium­(III) reagents work well in the Liebeskind–Srogl cross-coupling with thioesters, affording a wide variety of aryl ketones. This two-step transformation is a general method for the acylation of diazonium salts.