We report a method for the synthesis of N-protected staurosporinones, which are useful for the synthesis of indolo [2, 3-a] pyrrolo [3, 4-c] carbazole alkaloids and related compounds. An interaction of gramine methiodide (2) with 3-(N-benzyl) indolylacetonitrile (3) in the presence of t-BuLi, followed by a CF3COOH-catalyzed intramolecular indole-indole coupling and dehydrogenation with DDQ, produced 5-cyanoindolo [2, 3-a] carbazole 6 ...