Facile synthesis of the spiro-pyridoindolone scaffold via a gold-catalysed intramolecular alkynol cyclisation/hydroindolylation

A simple approach for the synthesis of pyridoindolone scaffolds with a spiroannulated tetrahydrofuran ring is described. The overall process comprises intramolecular sequential gold-catalysed 5-endo-dig alkynol cycloisomerization and subsequent addition of indole C2 to the in situ generated oxocarbenium cation.

Automated summary

A simple method for synthesizing pyridoindolone scaffolds with a spiroannulated tetrahydrofuran ring is described. The method involves intramolecular gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization and subsequent addition of indole C2 to the in situ generated oxocarbenium cation.