Synthesis of 1,1'-Bicarbazoles by Sequential Iron(III)- and Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling Reactions.

The iron(III)-catalyzed oxidative coupling of diarylamines to 2,2'-bis(arylamino)-1,1'-biaryls and subsequent twofold palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative cyclization provide a convergent synthetic route to 1,1'-bicarbazoles. Screening a range of different palladium(II) salts led to palladium(II) acetate, pivalate, and hexafluoroacetylacetonate as the most efficient catalysts. Remarkably, the twofold palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative cyclization can also be performed under argon. The mechanism for the oxidative cyclization under an inert gas presumably involves regeneration of the catalytically active palladium(II) species by oxidative addition of pivalic acid.