The synthesis of a range of carbazole alkaloids (murrayaquinones-A and
-B, murrayafoline-A, ellipticine, carbazomycins A and B, hyellazole,
carazostatin and staurosporinone) is discussed with emphasis on the de
velopment of new methodology, in particular the Diels-Alder reactions
of pyranoindolones with alkynes.