Photocatalytic Dehydrogenative 6π‐Photocyclisation of Indole Derivatives via Successive Energy Transfer

Herein, a successive energy transfer (sEnT) strategy to enable a dehydrogenative 6π‐photocyclisation, without the need for an external oxidant is reported, in which the energetically unfavourable dehydrogenation is driven by energy transfer. The valuable applicability of this method was demonstrated by the scaffold hopping of indole containing bioactive molecules, as well as by the succinct synthesis of naturally occurring tetracyclic furocarbazole alkaloids. Moreover, experimental and computational studies were conducted to elucidate the reaction mechanism.