Strategies for the Total Synthesis of Clavicipitic Acid

Abstract

Clavicipitic acid is an ergot alkaloid, which was isolated from Claviceps strain and Claviceps fusiformis. Its unique tricyclic azepinoindole skeleton has attracted synthetic chemists, and various strategies have been developed for its total synthesis. These strategies can be generally categorized into two types based on the synthetic intermediates, namely, 4-substituted gramine derivatives and 4-substituted tryptophan derivatives. This Minireview summarizes the reported total syntheses from the point of these two key intermediates.

Keywords: azepinoindole; clavicipitic acid; gramine; total synthesis; tryptophan.