Practical and efficient synthesis of N-fused tricyclic indoles

A practical and efficient synthesis of methyl 6,7,8,9-tetrahydropyrido[1,2-a]indol-10-ylacetate derivatives 6 is reported. This synthetic approach featured the nucleophilic aromatic substitution of 2-piperidinemethanol derivatives 2 with aryl fluorides 1, and the intramolecular Heck coupling as key steps to afford the desired N-fused tricyclic indoles 6.