Iodine-mediated oxidative Pictet-Spengler reaction using terminal alkyne as the 2-oxoaldehyde surrogate for the synthesis of 1-aroyl-β-carbolines and fused-nitrogen heterocycles

An efficient iodine-mediated oxidative Pictet-Spengler reaction in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) using terminal alkynes as the 2-oxoaldehyde surrogate for the synthesis of aryl (9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl)methanones is described. The scope of the protocol includes the total synthesis of Fascaplysin, Eudistomins Y1 and Y2. The methodology is extended for preparing pyrrolo[1,2-a]-quinoxaline and indolo[1,5-a]quinoxaline derivatives. The utility of 1-aroyl-β-carbolines was demonstrated by performing palladium-catalyzed β-carboline directed ortho-C(sp2)-H functionalization of the phenyl ring with thiomethyl (SMe) group using DMSO as source and for accessing 4-aryl-canthin-6-ones.

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