Gold-catalyzed and NaH-supported intramolecular cyclization of N-propargyl indole derivatives with pyrazole and pyrrole units attached to indole is described. An efficient route to the synthesis of pyrazolodiazepinoindole, pyrazolopyrazinoindole, and pyrrolopyrazinoindole has been established. First, N-propargyl 2-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-1H-indole and 2-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-1H-indole were synthesized. Introduction of various substituents into the alkyne functionality was accomplished by Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction. Gold-catalyzed cyclization of pyrazoles having a terminal alkyne afforded the 6-exo-dig cyclization product. However, exclusive formation of 7-endo-dig cyclization products was observed with internal alkynes. On the other hand, cyclization with NaH only resulted in the formation of 6-exo-dig cyclization products regardless of the substitution of the alkyne functionality. Allenic intermediates were postulated for this outcome.

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A concise synthetic methodology for new heterocyclic scaffolds, such as pyrazolo-pyrrolo-pyrazine and pyrazolo-pyrrolo-diazepine skeletons, was developed. The key features of this method include (i) synthesis of pyrrole-derived α,β-alkynyl ketones, (ii) introduction of various substituents into the alkyne functionality by Sonogashira cross-coupling, (iii) synthesis of pyrazole units by the reaction of α,β-alkynyl compounds with hydrazine monohydrate, (iv) gold-catalyzed cyclization of pyrazoles with alkyne units, and (v) cyclization with NaH. Furthermore, this methodology allows various substituents to be introduced into all positions of the target compounds.