Rhodium Catalyzed [2π + 2π + 2π]-Cycloaddition of Alkynyl-Ynamides and Carbon Disulfide to Indolo-Thiopyrane Thiones

The synthesis of new indoloannulated thiopyranethiones is reported. The key-step is a rhodium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2]-cycloaddition of alkynyl-ynamides with carbon disulfide to close the pyrrole and the thiopyranethione rings simultaneously. A violet idolothiopyrane thione or a mixture of the violet and a red isomer result from [RhCl(C8H14)2]2/3BINAP catalyzed cycloadditions, the regiochemistry is controlled by the substitution pattern on the alkynyl-ynamide.