Double Fischer cyclisation was used to prepare indolo[3,2-b]carbazole and its 2,8-di-OMe, OH, Br and F-derivatives. N-monosubstituted derivatives of indolo[3,2-b]carbazole (methyl, hydroxymethyl, dimethylaminoethyl) were obtained starting from 5,11 -di-Boc-indolo[3,2-b]carbazole. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.