Uncommon intramolecular palladium-catalyzed cyclization of indole derivatives

A novel synthetic strategy based on the intramolecular palladium-catalyzed oxidative cyclization reaction, allows the formation of C-C bond and the synthesis of beta-carbolinones. The reaction has been performed in the presence of catalytic amount of PdCl2(CH3CN)(2) and benzoquinone as a reoxidant. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.