The condensation of cyclohexenone (I) with diethyl alpha-methylmalonate (II) by means of sodium ethoxide in ethanol gives diethyl alpha-methyl-3-oxocyclohexanemalonate (III), oil b.p.(0.8) = 149-52 C, n(20)(D) = 1.4660, which is hydrolyzed and decarboxylated with refluxing dioxane-HCl to yield alpha-methyl-3-oxocyclohexaneacetic acid (IV), oil, b.p.(0.7) = 164-6 C, n(20)(D) = 1.4794. The condensation of (IV) with 4-chlorophenylhydrazine (A) in acetic acid-water atfords 6-chloro-alpha-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole-2-acetic acid (V), m.p. 193-202 C, which is esterified with ethanol-HCl to ethyl 6-chloro-alpha-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole-2-acetate (VI) and aromatized with chloranil (B) in refluxing xylene to give ethyl 6-chloro-alpha-methylcarbazole-2-acetate (VII), m.p. 106.0-7.5 C. Finally, this ester is hydrolyzed with NaOH in refluxing ethanol.

The condensation of cyclohexenone (I) with diethyl alpha-methylmalonate (II) by means of sodium ethoxide in ethanol gives diethyl alpha-methyl-3-oxocyclohexanemalonate (III), oil b.p.(0.8) = 149-52 C, n(20)(D) = 1.4660, which is hydrolyzed and decarboxylated with refluxing dioxane-HCl to yield alpha-methyl-3-oxocyclohexaneacetic acid (IV), oil, b.p.(0.7) = 164-6 C, n(20)(D) = 1.4794. The condensation of (IV) with 4-chlorophenylhydrazine (A) in acetic acid-water atfords 6-chloro-alpha-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole-2-acetic acid (V), m.p. 193-202 C, which is esterified with ethanol-HCl to ethyl 6-chloro-alpha-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole-2-acetate (VI) and aromatized with chloranil (B) in refluxing xylene to give ethyl 6-chloro-alpha-methylcarbazole-2-acetate (VII), m.p. 106.0-7.5 C. Finally, this ester is hydrolyzed with NaOH in refluxing ethanol.