A series of b-fused carbazoles structurally related to pyrido [4, 3-b] carbazole-type alkaloids was prepared, utilizing the Diels–Alder reaction of 1-methylpyrano [3, 4-b] indol-3 (9H)-one with electron-deficient acetylenic dienophiles as the key step. The title compound (14) thus obtained in only four steps represents a new 3-aza analog of the antitumor natural product, olivacine.