Facile synthesis of 5H-benzo[b]carbazol-6-yl ketones via sequential reaction of Cu-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts alkylation, iodine-promoted cyclization, nucleophilic substitution and aromatization.

Abstract

A convenient method to access 5H-benzo[b]carbazol-6-yl ketones via a sequential Cu-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of indoles with 2-(2-(alkynyl)benzylidene)malonates and iodine-promoted electrophilic cyclization followed by nucleophilic substitution and aromatization was developed. The products of the functional 5H-benzo[b]carbazol-6-yl ketones were obtained with up to 98% yield.