One-pot two-step synthesis of N-arylcarbazole-based skeleton

Abstract

A highly site-selective, one-pot, sequential C–N and C–C bond forming process was developed, affording a carbazole-based skeleton that contains biphenyl and diarylacetylene cores. The success of this process is attributed to the use of fluorinated iodoarenes as the starting material, the fluorine group of which preferentially reacts with carbazole. The subsequent coupling of the intermediate iodinated N-arylcarbazole with arylboronic acid or arylacetylene produced the desired products. The intermediate underwent a Pd-catalyzed Ullmann coupling with excess fluorinated iodoarenes in the absence of arylboronic acid or arylacetylene, resulting in Ullmann coupling products in a one-pot process.