Synthetic development and mechanistic study on Pd(II)-catalyzed cyclization of enediynes to benzo[a]carbazoles

Treatment of N,N-dimethyl 2-[2-(2-ethynylphenyl)ethynyl]anilines (1) with 10 mol % of palladium chloride and 2 equiv of cupric chloride in refluxing THF gave benzo[a]carbazoles (6) in good yields. A mechanistic study showed that this reaction must proceed through formation of haloindole (7) followed by a palladium(II)-catalyzed atom transfer cyclization reaction to give the benzo[a]carbazoles.     

Synthesis of carbazoles from ynamides by intramolecular dehydro Diels-Alder reactions

[reaction: see text]. A new approach to carbazoles and benzannulated carbazoles by means of intramolecular dehydro Diels-Alder reactions of ynamides is reported. By using this approach, carbazoles and benzo[b]-, tetrahydrobenzo[b]-, naphtho[1,2-b]-, naphtho[2,1-b]-, and dibenzo[a,c]carbazoles have been prepared in moderate-to-good yields.     

Synthesis of benzo[b]thieno‐ and benzo[b]furano‐[2,3‐a]pyrrolo[3,4‐c]carbazole‐5‐, ‐7‐ and ‐5,7‐dione

Benzo[b]thieno[2,3‐a]pyrrolo[3,4‐c]carbazoles and benzo[b]furano[2,3‐a]pyrrolo[3,4‐c]carbazoles were prepared from 2‐(2‐benzo[b]thieno)‐ (8) and 2‐(2‐benzo[b]furano)‐3‐[3‐(2,5‐dioxo‐lH‐pyrrolidinyl)]indole (9) by a palladium(II)acetate/tetrachloro‐1,4‐benzoquinone oxidative A‐E ring closure.     

Tandem Synthesis of Benzo[b]carbazoles and Their Photoluminescent Properties

5 H‐Benzo[b]carbazoles were prepared through a tandem reaction between 2‐ethynyl‐N‐triphenylphosphoranylidene anilines and α‐diazoketones through ketenimine intermediates in moderate‐to‐good yields. By using this approach, benzo[b]benzo[5,6]indolo[3,2‐h]carbazoles, fluoreno[9,1‐ab]carbazoles, and fluoreno[9,1‐ab]fluoreno[1′,9′:5,6,7]indolo[3,2‐h]carbazoles were constructed in one pot. Moreover, the resulting products emitted light within the range 410–521 nm, with quantum yields of up to 62 %.     

Acid-catalyzed condensation of 2,2′-diamino-1,1′-biaryls for the synthesis of benzo[c]carbazoles

2,2′-Diamino-1,1′-biaryls were found to undergo ring-closure condensation reaction to afford benzo[c]carbazoles in good to excellent yield. Coupled with the synthesis of 2,2′-biaryldiamines from diaryl hydrazides via [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, it constitutes a new efficient synthetic method for benzo[c]carbazoles and related compounds.     

Anionic Indole N-carbamoyl N --> C translocation. A directed remote metalation route to 2-Aryl- and 2-heteroarylindoles. synthesis of benz[a]carbazoles and Indeno[1,2-b]indoles

A new LDA-induced anionic N-C carbamoyl migration of 2-arylindoles (7) is reported. Treatment of N-carbamoylindoles 10 and 13, readily available by direct and ipso-borodesilylative Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling routes from 8 and 12, respectively, provides a general route to functionalized 2-arylindoles 11 and 14, respectively (Tables 1 and 2). The reaction has been applied to the synthesis of benzo[ a]carbazoles 16 and indeno[1,2- b]indoles 18, and its intramolecularity has been established by a crossover experiment (Scheme 4).     

Combined directed ortho and remote metalation-cross-coupling strategies. General method for benzo[a]carbazoles and the synthesis of an unnamed indolo[2,3-a]carbazole alkaloid

[reaction: see text] An efficient route to benzo[a]carbazoles via a metalation-cross-coupling sequence has been demonstrated and its application to the synthesis of the antitumor and antiviral alkaloid 6-cyano-5-methoxy-12-methylindolo[2,3-a]carbazole has been achieved.     

A concise synthesis of novel naphtho[a]carbazoles and benzo[c]carbazoles

Starting from simple indole precursors the synthesis of naphtho[a]carbazoles and benzo[c]carbazoles is described. Key steps include the use of the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction to afford 2- or 3-aryl substituted indoles, as well as a potassium t-butoxide and light assisted aromatic ring-forming reaction.     

Synthesis of selenium-containing biindolyls and their Diels–Alder reaction toward the synthesis of heteroannulated [a]- and [c]-carbazoles

We reported the first syntheses of 2- and 3-(2-(benzo[b]selenophen-2-yl)-indoles and their Diels–Alder reactions to furnish six unique annulated benzoselenphene carbazoles. This facile route can be used to synthesize selenium-containing biindolyl derivatives that possessed potential pharmaceutical activities.     

Divergent Coupling of Benzocyclobutenones with Indoles via C−H and C−C Activations

Highly selective divergent coupling reactions of benzocyclobutenones and indoles, in which the chemoselectivity is controlled by catalysts, are reported herein. The substrates undergo C2(indole)–C8(benzocyclobutenone) coupling to produce benzylated indoles and benzo[b]carbazoles in the Ni- and Ru-catalyzed reactions. A completely different selectivity pattern C2(indole)–C2(benzocyclobutenone) coupling to form arylated indoles is observed in the Rh-catalyzed reaction. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest C−H and C−C activations in the reaction pathway. Synthetic utility of this protocol is demonstrated by the selective synthesis of three different types of carbazoles from the representative products.     

Novel synthesis of benzo[b]carbazoles

A new method was adopted for the synthesis of benzo[b]carbazoles by Claisen condensation followed by Fischer indole cyclization. Newly synthesized benzo[b]carbazoles were treated with ethanol amine in the presence of polyphosphoric acid which leads to the formation of pyrazino carbazoles. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by all spectral means.     

Multibromo-N-alkylcarbazoles: synthesis, characterization, and their benzo[b]thiophene derivatives

We present an efficient method for the selective bromination of N-alkylcarbazoles using N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) in THF. Four brominated N-alkylcarbazoles including 3-bromo-, 3,6-dibromo-, 1,3,6-tribromo- and 1,3,6,8-tetrabromo-carbazoles were prepared and identified by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Subsequent cross-coupling of these carbazoles with benzo[b]thien-2-ylboronic acid gave the corresponding benzo[b]thien-2-yl functionalized carbazoles in good yields.     

Gold(I)-catalyzed polycyclizations of polyenyne-type anilines based on hydroamination and consecutive hydroarylation cascade

A hydroamination-double hydroarylation cascade using aniline derivatives bearing a trienyne moiety as the substrate was efficiently promoted by a gold(I) catalyst to produce benzo[a]naphtho[2,1-c]carbazole derivatives in good yields. This reaction is applicable to various substituted trienyne-type anilines, including 2,3-diethynylthiophene derivatives. The reaction of anilines bearing a tetraenyne and pentaenyne moiety allows direct construction of highly fused carbazoles by tetra- and pentacyclization, respectively, through hydroamination and consecutive hydroarylation without producing any theoretical waste products from the substrates.     

Synthesis of 3,3′-disubstituted-2,2′-biindolyls through sequential palladium-catalysed reactions of 2,2,2-trifluoro-N-(2-(4-[2,2,2-trifluoro-acetylamino)-phenyl]-buta-1,3-diynyl)-phenyl)-acetamide with organic halides/triflates

Palladium-catalysed reactions of aryl iodides/vinyl triflates with 2,2,2-trifluoro-N-(2-(4-[2,2,2-trifluoro-acetylamino)-phenyl]-buta-1,3-diynyl)-phenyl)-acetamide provide a straightforward entry into 3,3′-disubstituted-2,2′-biindolyls. Subsequent application of the procedure to homochiral aryl iodides affords the corresponding chiral 3,3′-disubstituted-2,2′-biindolyls. The methodology can also be applied to the synthesis of benzo[c]indolo[2,3-a]carbazoles.     

Modifications of 5,12-dihydroindolo[3,2-a]carbazole scaffold via its regioselective C2,9-formylation and C2,9-acetylation

The effective approaches for regioselective double formylation and acetylation of 5,12-dialkyl-6,7-diaryl-substituted 5,12-dihydroindolo[3,2-a]carbazoles by their treatment with dichloromethyl methyl ether in the presence of SnCl₄ or with acetyl chloride in the presence of AlCl₃ to afford the 2,9-diformyl or 2,9-diacetyl derivatives, respectively, were developed. Furthermore, new 2,9-bis(2,2-dicyanovinyl) derivatives were synthesized by the Knoevenagel condensation of diformyl-containing substrates with malononitrile, when new 2,9-bis(quinoxaline-2-yl)- and 2,9-bis(benzo[g]quinoxaline-2-yl) derivatives were formed via microwave-promoted oxidation of diacetyl-containing substrates with SeO₂ to the corresponding diglyoxals, followed by the reaction of these intermediates with o-phenylendiamine or 2,3-diaminonaphthalene, respectively. The basic optical and electrochemical properties of some 5,12-dihydroindolo[3,2-a]carbazoles were investigated.     

Convenient construction of spiro[indoline-3,5'-pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazole] and spiro[indene-2,5'-pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazole] via acid-catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction

p-TsOH catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction of 3-(indol-3-yl)maleimides with 3-phenacylideneoxindoles in toluene at 80 °C for two hours afforded cis/trans isomers of 3a',4′,6′,10c'-tetrahydrospiro[indoline-3,5′-pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles] in nearly comparable yields, which could be easily converted to the corresponding 4′,6′-dihydrospiro[indoline-3,5′-pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazole] in high yields and with high diastereoselectivity by further DDQ oxidation. Additionally, the similar reaction of 3-(indol-3-yl)maleimides with 2-arylidene-1,3-indanediones in toluene 80 °C and sequential DDQ oxidation afforded functionalized dihydrospiro[indene-2,5′-pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles] as major products.     

Synthesis of ladder-type pi-conjugated heteroacenes via palladium-catalyzed double N-arylation and intramolecular O-arylation

Ladder-type heteroacenes containing pyrrole or furan rings, indolo[3,2-b]carbazoles and dibenzo[d,d']benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']difurans, were effectively synthesized from the common intermediates, 2,5-bis(o-chloroaryl)hydroquinones. The key reactions are palladium-catalyzed double N-arylation of aniline and intramolecular O-arylation, which enable regioselective ring closure. In addition to the parent indolo[3,2-b]carbazole and dibenzo[d,d']benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']difuran, their derivatives with an alkyl or cyano group were first synthesized. Photophysical and electrochemical studies showed that the obtained heteroacenes have lower HOMO energy levels and larger band gaps than the corresponding hydrocarbon acene, pentacene. An X-ray analysis of dibenzo[d,d']benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']difuran revealed that it was packed in herringbone fashion.     

Ipso substitution as a route to benzo[c]quinolizines and 4-hydroxycoumarins

A convenient ipso substitution method for the preparation of benzo[c]quinolizine (2) and 4-hydroxy-3-(2'-pyridyl)coumarin (3) has been developed. The intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction of 3-oxo-2-(2'-pyridyl)-(2-halophenyl)propanoate (1) in refluxing xylenes gives initially benzo[c]quinolizine, while further heating results in the formation of 4-hydroxycoumarin. A mechanism has been proposed to rationalize the two competitive reaction pathways, and the role of HCl is discussed. Under optimized conditions, seven benzo[c]quinolizines and five coumarins were prepared in moderate to good yields.     

Photoinduced cyclization of 3-acyl-2-halo-1-[(ω-phenylethynyl)alkyl]indoles to azaheterocyclo[1,2,3-lm]-fused benzo[c]carbazoles

A one-pot synthesis of azaheterocyclo[1,2,3-lm]-fused benzo[c]carbazoles (2 and 3) has been developed by photocyclization of 3-acyl-2-halo-1-[(ω-phenylethynyl)alkyl] indoles (1) in good to excellent yields. All products are formed from 1 via two sequential photocyclization reactions. Two products, 9-chloro-7,8-dihydro-6H-benzo[c]pyrido[1,2,3-lm]carbazole (2a-h) and 7,8-dihydro-6H-benzo[c]pyrido[1,2,3-lm]carbazole (3a-h), are produced in the photocyclization of 2-halo-1-[(ω-phenylethynyl)alkyl]indole-3-carbaldehydes (1a-h). In contrast, only products 2a-h are produced in the photocyclization of 3-acetyl-2-chloro-1-[(ω-phenylethynyl)alkyl]indole-3-carbaldehydes (1o-t). The 9-H in 3a-h (n = 2) does originate from the formyl group in 1a-h via 1,5-hydrogen shift. The structures of three new products, 9-bromo-7,8-dihydro-6H-benzo[c]pyrido[1,2,3-lm]carbazole (2b), 9-chloro-10-methyl-7,8-dihydro-6H-benzo[c]pyrido[1,2,3-lm]carbazole (3h) and 12-chloro-7,8-dihydro-6H-benzo[c]pyrido[1,2,3-lm]carbazole (2w), have been corroborated by single-crystal X-ray structural analyses.     

One-pot synthesis of benzo[c]carbazoles by photochemical annulation of 2-chloroindole-3-carbaldehydes

A novel and efficient procedure for the synthesis of benzo[c]carbazoles has been achieved in moderate to high yields by the one-pot photochemical annulations of 2-chloroindole-3-carbaldehydes by styrenes via photodechlorination-initiated coupling of 2-chloroindole-3-carbaldehydes with styrenes, electrocyclic reactions and deformylative aromatization in the presence of pyridine.