An expedient approach to pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinolines via regioselective formation of the pyrrole nucleus over indoles

Abstract

An efficient approach for the synthesis of pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinolines (the core nucleus of the natural product martinellic acid) from protected 2-alkynylanilines via the regioselective formation of pyrroles followed by Heck and intramolecular Michael addition has been described.