To a solution of 0.50 gm (1.11 mMol) 6-bromo-3-(dimethyl)amino-9-triisopropylsilyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9H-carbazole in 50 mL tetrahydrofuran at -78° C. were added 1.96 mL (3.33 mMol) t-butyllithium (1.7M in pentane) and the resulting dark solution was allowed to stir for 30 minutes. To this mixture were then added 0.20 gm (1.22 mMol) N-methyl-N-methoxybenzamide and the reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature over 1 hour. The reaction mixture was then treated with 0.1N sodium hydroxide and then extracted well with chloroform. The organic phases were combined, dried over potassium carbonate and concentrated under reduced pressure to give 0.48 gm (91%) of the desired compound as a red-orange oil.
