Synthesis of new fluorescent building blocks via the microwave-assisted annulation reaction of 1,1,2-trimethyl-1H-benzo[e]indole with acrylic acid and its derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.tet.2014.01.070

The reaction of 1,1,2-trimethyl-1H-benzo[e]indole with acrylic acid and its derivatives was employed for the preparation of novel fluorescent building blocks. Treatment of 1,1,2-trimethyl-1H-benzo[e]indole with acrylic acid, acrylamide or tert-butyl acrylate in an autoclave or a microwave reactor at 180-200 C afforded benzo[e]pyrido[1,2-a]indole derivatives. Various chemical transformations of the latter compounds have been performed to yield functionalized benzo[e]indole scaffolds. The structure assignments were based on data from ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray analyses. The optical properties of the obtained benzo[e]indoline derivatives were studied by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy.