Access to 5-Methyl-5H-naphtho[2,3-c]carbazole-8,13-dione Derivatives via Copper-Catalyzed Intramolecular Isomerization

Carbazole-fused quinones are important compounds for their potential pharmacological activities and photophysical properties. Here, a novel copper-catalyzed intramolecular isomerization process to access a new class of naphtho[2,3-c]carbazole-8,13-dione derivatives via a furan isomerization/γ-H elimination and β-C elimination/6π-electrocyclization/aromatization cascade is reported. Furthermore, the preliminary photophysical properties of the functional 5-methyl-5H-naphtho[2,3-c]carbazole-8,13-dione derivatives have been studied.