A S 8 ‐mediated hydrogen‐borrowing reduction/cyclization/aromatization strategy for the preparation of indolo3,2‐ c quinolines has been described. The present procedure starts from 2‐(2‐nitrophenyl)indoles and amines, providing a wide range of indolo3,2‐cquinolines in 39%–75% yields under metal‐free conditions. In this work, nitro‐group reduction, CN bond cleavage, CN bond formation, and cyclization are achieved in one pot.
Tan et al. (Tue,) studied this question.