Starting from 2-(6-methoxy-1-methyl-9H-carbazol-2-yl)ethylamine 7 and mixed anhydrides of 4-nitrobenzoic acid or 4-methoxybenzoic acid, the corresponding 5,6-dimethyl-9-methoxy-1-(4-substituted phenyl)-6H-pyrido[4,3-b]carbazoles 11a-b, 5,6-dimethyl-9-hydroxy-1-(4-substituted