Base-promoted fused β-carboline formation from 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)cyclohexan-1-ones, aldehydes and ammonium salts

Abstract

A novel base-promoted fused β-carboline formation strategy from 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)cyclohexan-1-ones, aldehydes and ammonium salts has been developed. In this cascade reaction, ammonium salts served as a convenient nitrogen source and simultaneously played an important role in selectivity control, which can efficiently afford two different types of β-carbolines in satisfactory yields.