Synthesis of Dihydropyridinone-Fused Indoles and α-Carbolines via N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed [3 + 3] Annulation of Indolin-2-imines and Bromoenals.

The N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed [3 + 3] annulation of indolin-2-imines and bromoenals was developed to give dihydropyridinone-fused indoles in good to high yields, which were transformed to α-carbolines with different 2-subsituents by a process of dehydrogenation, tosylation, and palladium catalyzed C-C or C-N coupling reaction.