Dearomatization of Indole via Intramolecular [3 + 2] Cycloaddition: Access to the Pentacyclic Skeleton of Strychons Alkaloids

Org Lett. 2018 Aug 3;20(15):4439-4443. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.8b01720. Epub 2018 Jul 17.

Abstract

An efficient method to build various multisubstituted polycyclic indoline-annulated normal to medium-size rings through dearomatization of indole via a tandem 1,2-acyloxy migration/intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition process is described. The pentacyclic skeleton of strychnine could be synthesized via this tandem cycloaddition and a further Mannich reaction. This approach would provide a novel strategy to the synthesis of strychons alkaloids.