2-(2-Bromoaryl)-1H-indoles are coupled and cyclized with 1,3-diketones by microwave irradiation in DMF in the presence of a catalytic amount of copper(I) iodide along with a base to afford the corresponding indolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines in moderate to good yields.

Ketones undergo transfer hydrogenation using tributylamine in dioxane in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd/C to give the corresponding alkanes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Pd‐catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of aryl ketones with tributylamine leads to corresponding alkanes (II), whilst the similar reaction of dialkyl ketone (Ii) fails.