Synthesis of Biologically Active Carbazole Alkaloids Using Selective Transition-metal-catalyzed Coupling Reactions

Highly convergent syntheses of substituted carbazoles are most conveniently achieved using organometallic chemistry. Construction of the carbazole framework via the iron-mediated route proceeds by a sequence of C-C and C-N bond formation. In the highly efficient palladium-catalyzed route the C-N bond is formed first followed by generation of the C-C bond. This article highlights some recent developments and applications to the total synthesis of biologically active carbazole alkaloids.