Xiaoshuang Gao, Chengyang Li, Yao Yuan, Xiaomin Xie and Zhaoguo Zhang
Org. Biomol. Chem., 2020,18, 263-271
DOI:
10.1039/C9OB02294E,
Paper
Polycyclic indole scaffolds are ubiquitous in pharmaceuticals and natural products and in materials science. Here, we present a visible-light-initiated intramolecular aryl migration/desulfonylation/cyclization cascade reaction for the synthesis of tetracyclic indolo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-6(5H)-ones. This protocol not only exhibited a wide substrate scope but also provided a mild route to access a variety of tetracyclic N-fused indoles.