Indolidenes and Indolidenium Intermediates in the Synthesis of Cyclopent[b]indoles: Mechanistic Studies on Intramolecular Cyclizations

Tetracyclic products featuring predominantly a trans-hexahydroindane unit annelated onto the C(2)/C(3) positions of indole can be accessed by intramolecular cyclocondensation of tethered alkenyl sulfides with either indolidene or indolidenium cation intermediates. Studies with geometrically pure E- and Z-alkenyl sulfide isomers reveal a likely dichotomy of reaction paths that provide mixtures of both regioisomers and stereoisomers of the hexahydroindane adducts.