Synthesis of new fused and substituted benzo and pyrido carbazoles via C-2 (het)arylindoles

In the course of a program aimed at designing new antitumor agents, we were interested in the synthesis of new substituted benzo and pyrido carbazoles. The synthesis was performed through an efficient four-step sequence from a 2-trimethylstannylindole derivative and via C-2 (het)arylindoles. The synthetic sequence was developed using two palladium mediated reactions including, at the end of the synthesis, a direct (het)arylannulation, which led to the desired heterocycles.