The synthesis and reactions of 2-bis (methylthio) methylene-1-methyl-3-oxoindole 5 as a novel 3-carbon 1, 3-bielectrophilic component are described. Thus cycloaromatization of 5 with allyl, methallyl and crotyl Grignard reagents affords substituted carbazoles 12a-c in good yields. Cycloaromatization of 5 with various anions derived from aryl/heteroaryl acetonitriles and antipyrine gives novel benzo [c]-(16), naphtho [1, 2-c]-(19), indolo [3, 2-a] ...
[Bashford, Katherine E.; Cooper, Anthony L.; Kane, Peter D.; Moody, Christopher J.; Muthusamy, Sendogagounder; Swanna, Elizabeth Journal of the Chemical Society. Perkin Transactions 1, 2002 , # 14 p. 1672 - 1687]