Patent ID: 8604219

Claim:
A process for the preparation of N-alkyl carbazole; said process comprising the following steps: a. chlorinating cyclohexanone to form 2-chlorocyclohexanone; b. reacting 2-chlorocylohexanone with N-alkyl aniline to form 2-(N-alkyl anilino) cyclohexanone in the absence of dehydrating agent and solvent; c. cyclizing 2-(N-alkyl anilino)cyclohexanone by refluxing with simultaneous water removal to obtain 9-alkyl-tetrahydrocarbazole in the absence of dehydrating agent and solvent; d. treating 9-alkyl-tetrahydrocarbazole with concentrated hydrochloric acid followed by water wash for removing N-alkyl aniline; and e. dehydrogenating 9-alkyl-tetrahydrocarbazole by heating 9-alkyl-tetrahydrocarbazole in a solvent, in presence of a catalyst to obtain N-alkyl carbazole.