Isomerization of pyridazino [4,5-b] indoles to pyrrolo [3,4-b] indoles

The dihydropyridazine ring undergoes contraction to a dihydropyrrole ring to give 1-phenyl-2-benzylideneaminodihydropyrrolo[3,4-b]indol-3-ones when 1-phenyldihydropyridazino[4,5-b]indol-4-ones are treated with aromatic aldehydes under acid catalysis conditions. The reaction mechanism consists in the formation of a (3-indolyl)phenylmethyl cation, which leads to opening of the pyridazine ring and subsequent development of a bond between the carbonium center and the amide nitrogen atom.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1406–1408, October, 1976.