Recent advances in the synthesis of N-alkenyl carbazoles

Abstract

N-Alkenyl carbazoles are important building blocks of poly(vinylcarbazole), which is used in photosensitive materials, semiconductors, electroluminescent devices, and non-linear optical materials. Recently, a CN bond formation reaction using transition-metal-catalyzed amination and transition-metal-catalyzed vinylation was successfully extended to the synthesis of N-alkenyl carbazoles. In this paper, I discuss recent examples of the synthesis of N-alkenyl carbazoles, including palladium and copper-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of carbazoles with alkenes/alkenyl halides, and iridium-catalyzed vinylation of carbazole using vinyl acetate.