Nitrogen-Iodine Exchange of Diaryliodonium Salts: Access to Acridine and Carbazole.

A nitrogen-iodine exchange protocol of diaryliodonium salts with sodium azide salt is developed for general construction of significant functional acridines and carbazoles, in which introduction of nitrogen at a late stage was successfully established avoiding heteroatom incompatibility. Inorganic sodium azide served as the sole nitrogen atom source in this transformation. The diversiform functional acridines and carbazoles were comprehensively achieved through annulated diaryliodonium salts, respectively. Notably, Acridine orange (a fluorescent indicator for cell lysosomal dye) and Carprofen (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) were efficiently established through this protocol.