One-pot efficient synthesis of novel fused pentacyclic indolopyridobenzimidazoles and pyridoimidazopyridoindoles from the reaction of pyranoindolones with 1,2-diaminobenzenes and 2,3-diaminopyridines

The synthesis of a number of novel, fully conjugated, planar pentacyclic 5H-indolo3′,2′:4,5]pyrido1,2-a]1,3]benzimidazoles (8) and 11H-pyrido3″,2″:4′,5′]imidazo1′,2′:1,6]pyrido3,4-b]indoles (12) by a one-pot reaction of pyranoindolones with substituted o-phenylenediamines or 2,3-diaminopyridines is described. In the case of 2,3-diaminopyridines the reaction proceeds regioselectively affording only regioisomers 12. Structural assignments of the new compounds as well as complete assignment of ¹H and ¹³C NMR signals were based on the analysis of their ¹H and ¹³C NMR (1D and 2D), IR, MS and elemental analysis data. Plausible mechanisms are proposed.