Carbazoquinocin C

Development of an acid catalyzed, intramolecular benzannulation of indoles for the synthesis of functionalized carbazoles has been reported. The indole appended Z-enoate propargylic alcohols have been employed. The N-EDG-indoles involve the 5-exo-dig cyclization followed by 1,2-migration to give the carbazole-butenoates, whereas the N-EWG-indoles undergo the Z-enoate assisted Meyer-Schuster rearrangement to give the dihydrocarbazole-4-oxo-butanoates. Utilizing one of the 2-methyl-carbazole-butyraldehyde (obtained from the corresponding carbazole-butanoate) as the key intermediate, we have developed a simple approach for an efficient synthesis of N-Me-carazostatin, N-Me-carbazoquinocin C and N-Me-lipocarbazole A4.

Total syntheses of carazostatin (1), hyellazole (2a), and carbazoquinocins B-F (3b-f) have been completed. The cross-coupling reaction between 3-iodoindole 8 and vinylstannane 11b gave the 3-alkenylindole 7. Treatment of 7 with ethynylmagnesium bromide, followed by etherification of the resulting alcohol 12 with MOMCl, yielded the 3-alkenyl-2-propargylindole 6. The compound 6 was treated with t-BuOK in t-BuOH at 90 degrees C to obtain the desired carbazoles 4 together with the N-deprotected carbazole 13 through an allene-mediated electrocyclic reaction. The carbazole 13a, derived from 4a or 4c, was converted into the triflate 24 in two steps. The triflate 24 was subjected to the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction with either 9-heptyl-9-BBN or phenylboronic acid in the presence of a palladium catalyst to produce the 1-heptylcarbazole 25a and the 1-phenylcarbazole 25b. Cleavage of the ether bond of 25a yielded carazostatin (1). Cleavage of the ether bond of 25b followed by O-methylation gave hyellazole (2a). Oxidation of carazostatin (1) with benzene seleninic anhydride afforded carbazoquinocin C (3c). In a similar way, carbazoquinocins B and D-F (3b,d-f) were synthesized, respectively.

[reaction: see text] The photoinduced o-benzannulation of 3-(2-vinyl)indolylcarbene complexes provides a direct route to carbazole derivatives that are oxygenated in the 3- and 4-positions. This reaction is quite efficient and provides for a unique synthesis of the lipid peroxidation inhibitor carbazoquinocin C.