β-Carboline-directed decarboxylative acylation of ortho-C(sp2)–H of the aryl ring of aryl(β-carbolin-1-yl)methanones with α-ketoacids under palladium catalysis

Abstract

A palladium-catalysed β-carboline directed decarboxylative acylation of ortho-C(sp²)–H of the aryl ring of aryl(β-carbolin-1-yl)methanones using α-oxocarboxylic acid as the acyl ion equivalent to form (2-aroylaryl)(β-carbolin-2-yl)methanones is described. The utility of these products for preparing β-carboline-tethered phthalazine systems is also demonstrated.