The condensation of 1-methylindole-2-carbaldehyde (I) with 2-hydroxybenzyl triphenylphosphonium bromide (II) by means of BuLi in THF gives the vinyl derivative (III), which is condensed with (R)(+)-methyl lactate (IV) by means of DEAD and PPh3 in THF yielding the chiral ether derivative (V). The reduction of the carboxylate group of (V) with DIBAL in THF affords the expected chiral propanol derivative (VI), which is cyclized with N-methylmaleimide (VII) by heating at 180 C and aromatized with DDQ giving the pyrrolocarbazole (VIII). The reaction of the hydroxy group of (VIII) with tosyl chloride and pyridine yields the corresponding tosylate (IX), which is finally condensed with dimethylamine in hot DMF.
The condensation of 1-methylindole-2-carbaldehyde (I) with 2-hydroxybenzyl triphenylphosphonium bromide (II) by means of BuLi in THF gives the vinyl derivative (III), which is condensed with (rac)-methyl lactate (IV) by means of DEAD and PPh3 in THF yielding the ether derivative (V). The reduction of the carboxylate group of (V) with DIBAL in THF affords the expected propanol derivative (VI), which is cyclized with N-methylmaleimide (VII) by heating at 180 C and aromatized with DDQ giving the pyrrolocarbazole (VIII). The reaction of the hydroxy group of (VIII) with tosyl chloride and pyridine yields the corresponding tosylate (IX), which is finally condensed with dimethylamine in hot DMF.