Reactions of electron-rich heterocycles with orthocarboxylic acid derivatives.11. Reactions of carbazole and 4-methoxycarbazole with triethyl orthoformate: Regiospecific functionalization of the carbazole nucleus

Carbazole (1a) and 4-methoxycarbazole (1b) can be regioselectively functionalized by reaction with triethyl orthoformate. Whereas the reaction of 1a with the ortho ester furnishes the amide acetal 2, the new carbazole derivatives 4–10 are formed, depending on the reaction conditions, in the electrophilic substitution of 1b. The products of this reaction sequence provide a contribution to studies on the mechanism of the transformation of 1b to tris-carbazolylmethane 5. Compound 5 represents a new, three-bladed propeller in the triheteroarylmethane series.