Preparation and reactivity of 5‐substituted azepino[3,4‐b]indoles

Preparation of the 5‐substituted azepino3,4‐b]indole core structure can be realised through a catalytic Heck reaction. The scope and limitations of this methodology are reported. The reactivity of di‐tert‐butyl 5‐ethoxycarbonylmethylene‐1,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1‐oxoazepino3,4‐b]indole‐2,10‐dicarboxylate (1) was investigated in order to prepare the indole analogue of hymenialdisine and derivatives.