5‐Unsubstituted Pyrido[3,2,1‐jk]carbazol‐6‐ones: Syntheses,Substitution, and Cyclization Reactions

The synthesis of the 5‐unsubstituted pyrido3,2,1‐jk]carbazol‐6‐one 4 can be achieved by the reaction of carbazole ( 1 ) and malonate derivatives, either in a three‐step synthesis via 5‐acetyl‐pyridocarbazolone 3 or in a one‐step reaction from 1 and malonic acid/phosphoryl chloride. The 5‐acetyl derivative 5 can be transformed via a tosylate intermediate to 4‐azido‐pyridocarbazolone 11 , which cyclizes by thermal decomposition to the isoxazolo‐pyrido3,2,1‐jk]carbazolone 12 . The thermolysis conditions were investigated by DSC. Nitration of pyridocarbazolone 4 and subsequent introduction of azide leads to azido derivative 23 , which cyclizes on thermolysis to furazan‐oxide derivative 24 . Again, the thermolysis conditions were investigated by DSC. 5‐Chloro‐5‐nitro‐pyrido3,2,1‐jk]carbazole‐4,6‐dione, obtained from 4 by subsequent nitration and chlorination, forms by exchange of both 5‐substituents 5,5‐dihydroxy‐pyridocarbazoledione 17 , which acylates phenol to give 5‐hydroxy‐5‐(p‐hydroxyphenyl)‐pyridocarbazoledione 20 . Acid‐catalyzed cyclodehydration of 20 forms a highly fused benzofuro‐pyridocarbazole 21 . Another C–C coupling at position 5 starts from 4‐chloro‐5‐nitro‐pyridocarbazolone 22 and diethyl malonate 2a , which forms the diethyl (nitrocarbazolyl)malonate 25 . With dimethyl malonate 2c , the intermediate dimethyl (nitrocarbazolyl)malonate gives on thermolysis the (nitrocarbazolyl)acetate 27 by loss of one ester group.