Expedient, one-pot preparation of fused indoles via CAN-catalyzed three-component domino sequences and their transformation into polyheterocyclic compounds containing pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepine fragments.

The CAN-catalyzed three-component between reaction between primary amines, beta-dicarbonyl compounds and naphthoquinones or 2-bromonaphthoquinones afforded, respectively, 5-hydroxybenzo[g]indoles and benzo[f]indole-4,9-diones, the former of which were transformed into tetracyclic azepino[1,2-a]benzo[g]indole systems through a gamma-alkylation/ring-closing metathesis sequence.