Synthesis of carbazoles from N-(N,N-diarylamino)phthalimides with aluminum chloride via diarylnitrenium ions

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo016124r

Generation of diarylnitrenium ions from N-(N,N-diarylamino)phthalimides by treatment with AlCl₃ in benzene or in 1,2-dichloroethane leads to formation of carbazoles by intramolecular C-C bond formation. The reaction proceeds in synthetically useful yields.