A sunlight-mediated [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azobenzenes with arynes that are in situ generated from ortho-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl triflates has been developed in the absence of transition metals or photocatalysts. This strategy provides an alternative method for the efficient construction of the carbazole backbone.
![Graphical abstract: Sunlight-mediated [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azobenzenes with arynes: an approach toward the carbazole skeleton](http://hg.y866.cn/compound/lib/scimg/usr/1/D1QO00739D.jpg)