Heterocyclic analogues of carbazole alkaloids

Carbazole containing alkaloids (e.g. ellipticine and related compounds, ind olocarbazoles......) have caught the attention of the chemists and biochemi sts due to their biological activities (antitumor, antiviral, protein kinas e inhibitors......). Numerous total syntheses of the natural compounds have been effected as well as structural modifications for annulating various h eterocyclic systems to the carbazole. Interest in these modifications lays in the possible changes in biological activities. This review will present some of the aspects of the chemistry developped re cently to introduce such modifications.