Abstract: The Diels-Alder reaction of N-acetylpyrrolo [3, 4-b] indoles with 4- acetamidocarbazoles affords cycloadducts that undergo ring opening with catalytic p- toluenesulfonic acid to give 4-aminocarbazoles. Application of this strategy to the synthesis of naturally occurring 4-amidocarbazole antiostatins has not been achieved. Keywords: Pyrrolo [3, 4-b] indoles, Diels-Alder reaction, antiostatins, 4-amidocarbazoles, Staudinger ...