Superelectrophilic carbocations: preparation and reactions of a substrate with six ionizable groups.

A substrate has been prepared having two triarylmethanol centers and four pyridine-type substituent groups. Upon ionization in the Brønsted superacid CF3SO3H, the substrate undergoes two types of reactions. In the presence of only the superacid, the highly ionized intermediate(s) provide a double cyclization product having two pyrido[1,2-a]indole rings. With added benzene, an arylation product is obtained. A mechanism is proposed involving tetra-, penta-, or hexacationic species.