Reaction SMILES: [C:1]([O:5][C:6]([N:8]1[C:19]2[C:11](=[C:12]3[C:16](=[CH:17][CH:18]=2)[NH:15][CH:14]([C:20]([OH:22])=[O:21])[CH2:13]3)[CH:10]=[CH:9]1)=[O:7])([CH3:4])([CH3:3])[CH3:2].N(C(OCC)=O)=NC(OCC)=O.C1(P(C2C=CC=CC=2)C2C=CC=CC=2)C=CC=CC=1.[N+:54]([C:57]1[CH:62]=[CH:61][C:60]([CH2:63][CH2:64]O)=[CH:59][CH:58]=1)([O-:56])=[O:55]>C(OCC)C.C1COCC1>[N+:54]([C:57]1[CH:62]=[CH:61][C:60]([CH2:63][CH2:64][O:21][C:20]([CH:14]2[CH2:13][C:12]3[C:16](=[CH:17][CH:18]=[C:19]4[N:8]([C:6]([O:5][C:1]([CH3:4])([CH3:2])[CH3:3])=[O:7])[CH:9]=[CH:10][C:11]4=3)[NH:15]2)=[O:22])=[CH:59][CH:58]=1)([O-:56])=[O:55]
Reactant: O=[N+]([O-])c1ccc(CCO)cc1
Reactant: CC(C)(C)OC(=O)n1ccc2c3c(ccc21)NC(C(=O)O)C3
Agent: CCOC(=O)N=NC(=O)OCC
Agent: c1ccc(P(c2ccccc2)c2ccccc2)cc1
Solvent: C1CCOC1
Solvent: CCOCC
Product: CC(C)(C)OC(=O)n1ccc2c3c(ccc21)NC(C(=O)OCCc1ccc([N+](=O)[O-])cc1)C3
Temperature: 4 °C
Yield: 85 %

Procedure:
Ten grams (33.1 mmol) of 3-[(tert-butyl)oxycarbonyl]pyrrolo[3,2-e]indoline-7-carboxylic acid (Boger, et al., J. Org. Chem. 52:1521 (1987)), well dried, are placed into an argon filled flask, and 84 mL of THF and 10.4 mL (66.2 mmol) of diethyl azodicarboxylate (DEAD) are added. A dropping funnel is placed atop the flask (flushed with argon) and a water bath (to cool the flask) is placed under it. A solution of 17.3 g (66 mmol) of triphenylphosphine and 6.64 g (39.7 mmol) of 2-(p-nitrophenyl) ethanol in 160 mL of ethyl ether is made. This solution is added to the dropping funnel, and then to the reaction flask, dropwise, with stirring. The reaction is allowed to proceed for an hour, at which time, a TLC analysis is done (2:1 hexanes/ethyl acetate) examined by UV (254 nm) to determine whether the reaction is complete. If it is complete, then the baseline spot (bluish) will disappear and the product, with an Rf of 0.55, will appear as a dark spot. Often, especially if the reactants are not entirely dry, another portion of triphenylphosphine and DEAD are required. If so, a tenth of the original amounts is usually sufficient, i.e., 1.73 g of triphenylphosphine and 1.04 mL of DEAD. These can be added neat to the stirred solution. Allow to react another hour, after which another TLC analysis usually reveals complete reaction. The product usually precipitates out in part; this is collected bt filtration and washed with methanol, then recrystallized by dissolving in a minimum amount (typically, 80-100 ml) of warm acetone and adding four times that volume of warm methanol. Cool to 4° C. for several hours or perhaps overnight. The supernatant from the original precipitation is saved and evaporated to a syrup or until dry. It too is dissolved in a minimum amount of warm acetone; typically about 100-120 mL of warm acetone. The total amount or acetone used for the two recrystallizations is usually approximately 200 mL. As before, an amount of warm methanol equal to four times the amount of acetone is added. The solution is cooled; crystallization begins almost at once but is allowed to continue several hours to overnight. The recrystallizations are quite efficient, but the product from the reaction supernatant is usually not quite as pure and is purified by recrystallization. The yield is approximately 85%. (mp 191-193° C.) 1H NMR (DMSO-d6) δ11.83 (s, 1H), 8.18 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 2H), 7.84 (br s, 1H), 7.64 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 2H), 7.25 (d, J=8.8 Hz), 6.96 (s, 1H), 4.56 (t, J=6 Hz, 2H), 4.00 (t, J=8.8 Hz, 2H), 3.21 (m, 4H), 1.51 (s, 9H). Combustion Analysis: Found: C, 63.16%; H, 5.56%; N, 9.45%. Calculated for 0.4 mole added water: C, 62.8%; H, 5.7%; N, 9.16%.