[Indoles. 9. 4-Arylated tetrahydro-beta-carbolines--synthesis and first pharmacologic data]

A one-pot synthesis of 7-phenylindolo[3,2-a]carbazoles from indoles and β-nitrostyrenes, via an unprecedented reaction sequence

A six-step one-pot reaction was designed for synthesizing homodimeric 7-phenylindolo[3,2-a]carbazoles from 1H-indoles and β-nitrostyrenes, in the presence of SnCl(2)·2H(2)O. The reactions proceeded under very mild conditions and the desired heterocycles were obtained in moderate to good yields. An unprecedented mechanism involving sequential indole dimerization, regioselective nucleophilic conjugate addition of the resulting 2,3'-biindole to β-nitrostyrene and formal intramolecular [4 + 2]-cycloaddition is proposed.

Azepino- and diazepinoindoles: synthesis and dopamine receptor binding profiles

Starting from the readily available building blocks 7, 10, 11, and 15, the synthesis of the fused indoles 1, 2, 5, and 6, respectively, is reported. The syntheses involved Pictet-Spengler cyclizations, Michael addition reactions, lactamization, directed metallation, and reductive amination as the key reaction steps. Radioligand displacement studies comprising the dopamine receptor subtypes D1, D2long D2short, D3, and D4.4 were performed when the diazepinoindole 6 revealed D1 and D4 affinities (Ki = 0.11 microM and 1.7 microM, respectively) which are comparable to the partial D1 agonist SKF 38393 (3b). In contrast to the benzazepine 3b, the indole based test compounds turned out less selective over the D2 and D3 receptor subtype.

[Indoles. 10. Synthesis, structure and D2-affinity of beta-carboline analogs of flutroline]

10 is a beta-carboline analogue of the neuroleptic flutroline2a,b) with significant lower affinity at the dopamine D2 binding site. Various synthetic routes to 10 and the solid state structure of 8 are described, structure activity relations, in particular the importance of the "S-shape" and the rigid dopamine conformation are discussed.