Synthesis of Diarylamines and Methylcarbazoles and Formal Total Synthesis of Alkaloids Ellipticine and Olivacine

New and efficient strategies for the conversion of 4-oxazolin-2-ones into 1-methyl and 1,4-dimethyl 3-formylcarbazoles are herein described. Highly convergent cascade and one-pot processes afforded the corresponding diarylamines, as in situ formed synthetic intermediates or final products in high overall yields. Special attention was given to the synthesis of methylated carbazoles by reacting 4,5-dimethyl-4-oxazolin-2-ones with enones under microwave irradiation. The carbazole scaffold was provided by the palladium(II)-catalyzed double C−H activation to generate oxidative cyclization of diarylamines. This methodology allowed for formal total syntheses of four naturally occurring pyrido[4,3-b]carbazole alkaloids ellipticine, 9-methoxyellipticine, olivacine, and 9-methoxyolivacine.