Transition-Metal-Free, Brønsted Acid-Mediated Cascade Sequence in the Reaction of Propargyl Alcohols with Sulfonamido-indoles/-indolines: Highly Substituted δ- and α-Carbolines.

Brønsted acid-mediated, transition-metal-free reaction of propargyl alcohols with sulfonamido-indoles/-indolines under mild conditions affords highly substituted δ- or α-carbolines in good to excellent yields. This protocol involves cascade reaction sequences of Friedel-Crafts alkylation/ [1,5]-hydrogen shift/electrocyclization/elimination/ [1,2]-aryl migration followed by aromatization. An unexpected regioselective tosyl group migration from indole 2- to 6-position and arene elimination leading to α-carbolines has also been discovered.