Exploring Gold Catalysis in a 1,6-Conjugate Addition/Domino Electrophilic Cyclization Cascade: Synthesis of Cyclohepta[b]indoles

An effective method for the construction of the structurally complex fused cyclohepta­[b]­indole core has been developed through an intermolecular 1,6-conjugate addition of indoles to 2-alkynyl p-quinone methides followed by an intramolecular electrophilic cyclization under oxophilic and alkynophilic gold catalysis.