A general synthesis of arylindoles and (1-arylvinyl)carbazoles via a one-pot reaction from N-tosylhydrazones and 2-nitro-haloarenes and their potential application to colon cancer.

A convergent and effective synthesis of 3-aryl-indoles, 2,3-diaryl indoles, and (1-arylvinyl)carbazoles from a one-pot sequence involving the coupling of N-tosylhydrazones with ortho-nitro-haloarenes followed by a cyclization has been developed. Compound 5i exhibits excellent antiproliferative activity in the low nM range against colon cancer cell lines.