One-Pot Synthesis of Pyrrolo[3,2,1-kl]phenothiazines through Copper-Catalyzed Tandem Coupling/Double Cyclization Reaction

A novel and efficient synthesis of pyrrolo[3,2,1-kl]phenothiazines has been developed through a Cu(I)-catalyzed tandem C–S coupling/double cyclization process. Using 2-alkynyl-6-iodoanilines and o-bromobenzenethiols as the starting materials, a wide range of pyrrolo[3,2,1-kl]phenothiazine derivatives were facilely and efficiently generated in one pot under Cu(I) catalysis.