Synthesis of Indolo[2,3‑c]quinolin-6(7H)‑ones and Antimalarial Isoneocryptolepine. Computational Study on the Pd-Catalyzed Intramolecular C–H Arylation

The synthesis of variously substituted indolo­[2,3-c]­quinolin-6­(7H)-ones was developed via Pd-catalyzed intramolecular C–H arylation. This method highlights a strategy for preparing indoloquinoline precursors bearing versatile functional groups and provides a new approach for the synthesis of antimalarial isoneocryptolepine analogues. The plausible ring closure mechanism was examined with quantum chemical calculations, where a trigonal bipyramidal concerted metalation–deprotonation transition state is presumable.