An unconventional
[2 + 3] cyclization of pyridinium ylides with
2-ylideneoxindoles has been developed for the facile construction
of pharmacologically interesting polysubstituted 9H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indol-9-ones (fluorazones). Mechanistic
studies revealed that the reaction, which has a broad substrate scope,
proceeds via intermolecular [1,4]-sulfonyl transfer. Moreover, biological
evaluation showed that polysubstituted fluorazone 3ak potently inhibits indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1, kynurenine production,
and immunotolerance in tumors.