Copper-Mediated Decarboxylative Coupling between Arylacetic Acids and 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds.

A copper-mediated decarboxylative coupling reaction between arylacetic acids and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds was described. Significantly, methanocycloocta[b]indoles were also obtained by sequential intramolecular dehydrocyclization process in some cases. This protocol featured a broad substrate scope, simple operations, and good yields. Moreover, the products exhibited potent antiproliferative activity against the human cancer cell lines by a MTT assay.