Facile entry to polycyclic indolylhydroquinoline skeletons via tandem C-alkylation and intramolecular S-alkylation

An efficient, single step synthesis of hitherto unknown indole-annulated pentacyclic indolylhydroquinolines via tandem C-alkylation and intramolecular S-alkylation of indolin-2-thiones with N-alkylquinolinium salts in excellent yields (83-95%) is reported. This facile approach provides a powerful entry into polycyclic structures containing nitrogen and sulfur related to alkaloids. The structure of the product was determined by Röntgen crystal structure analysis.