A Strategy to Construct cis-Hydrocarbazole via Nickel/Lewis Acid Dual-Catalyzed Arylcyanation

A strategy for the synthesis of cis-hydrocarbazole with a C3 quaternary carbon center has been developed through nickel/Lewis acid dual-catalyzed arylcyanation. A wide array of cis-hydrocarbazoles was accessed with high diastereoselectivities and atom economies in a good yield. The rich chemistry of the installed nitrile group was demonstrated in the preparation of tryptamine- and tryptophol-derived cis-hydrocarbazoles.