Gold-Catalyzed Sequential Alkyne Activation: One-Pot Synthesis of NH-Carbazoles via Cascade Hydroarylation of Alkyne/6-Endo-Dig Carbocyclization Reactions
A simple and efficient one-pot protocol for the synthesis of NH-carbazoles has been described. The strategy comprises a one-pot reaction involving the treatment of 2-alkynyl indoles with arylacetylenes in the presence of an Au鈥揂g combination catalyst. The salient feature of the strategy involves sequential activation of terminal and internal alkynes leading to the cascade hydroarylation of terminal alkynes and 6-endo-dig carbocyclization reactions. The generality of the method has been demonstrated by using a series of 2-alkynyl indoles and arylacetylenes.