Enantioselective and diastereoselective azo-coupling/iminium-cyclizations: a unified strategy for the total syntheses of (-)-psychotriasine and (+)-pestalazine B

Chem Sci. 2015 Jun 1;6(6):3599-3605. doi: 10.1039/c5sc00338e. Epub 2015 May 5.

Abstract

We report a unified strategy for the total syntheses of (-)-psychotriasine and (+)-pestalazine B based on the advanced intermediates of 3α-amino-hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole. To construct these structural motifs, a cascade reaction involving a BINOL-derived phosphoric anion-paired catalyst for enantioselective or diastereoselective azo-coupling/iminium-cyclizations was developed. The remaining key steps of the synthesis involve a sterically hindered amination via hypervalent iodine reagents and the Larock annulation. These transformations enable a general approach to the syntheses of indole alkaloids containing a 3α-amino-hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole motif and could be further applied to build a natural product-based library.