Nickel‐Catalyzed C(Aryl)−O Bond Activation/Cross‐Coupling Reaction of Carbazoles with Methyl Grignard: Synthesis of Ellipticine

Abstract A nickel‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reaction between methoxy‐substituted carbazoles and MeMgBr has been developed. This protocol for the cleavage of the C(aryl)−OMe was used to efficiently assemble various methyl‐substituted carbazoles and successfully applied to the total synthesis of the antitumor agent ellipticine.