Palladium-catalyzed syntheses of tetrahydrocarbazolones as advanced intermediates to carbazole alkaloids

Two sequential palladium-catalyzed reactions, an intermolecular Stille cross-coupling followed by a recently developed palladium-catalyzed reductive N-heteroannulation, have been employed as the key synthetic steps toward six tetrahydrocarbazolones. The products are advanced intermediates toward a number of naturally occurring carbazole alkaloids.