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 (1.7 M 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 0.1 N 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.
