Indole[1,2-c]quinazolines by palladium-catalyzed cyclization of bis(o-trifluoroacetamidophenyl) acetylene with aryl and vinyl halides or triflates

6-Trifluoromethyl-12-aryl(vinyl)indolo[1,2-c]quinazolines are prepared in high yield through the palladium-catalyzed reaction of readily available bis(o-trifluoroacetamidophenyl)acetylene with aryl or vinyl halides and triflates. followed by cyclization of the resultant derivatives. The reaction, which tolerates a variety of important functional groups. probably involves the formation of a 3-aryl-2-(o-trifluoroacetamidophenyl)indole intermediate, followed by its cyclization to the indolequinazoline product. Formation of the indoloquinazoline nucleus has been unambiguously determined via X-ray analysis.