Cyclization of 2- and 3-indolylthiobenzoic,phenylacetic and nicotinic acids and esters to novel indole-containing tetracyclic ring systems

A series of 2- and 3-indolylthio benzoic, phenylacetic and nicotinic acids or esters were cyclized under dehydrative conditions affording several tetracyclic indole-containing ketones, several of which constitute the first reported examples of novel ring systems, such as the [1]benzothiepino[2,3-b] and [3,2-b]indole and the pyrido[3′2′:5,6] and [3′4′:5,6]thiopyrano[2,3-b] and [3,2-b]indole as well as the [3′2′:5,6] and [3′4′:5,6][1,3]thiazino[3,2-a]indole ring systems.