A Convergent Approach

A Convergent Approach

Author: Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Tohru Fukuyama and co-workers, University of Tokyo, Japan, have reported a highly convergent total synthesis of (–)-conophylline and (–)-conophyllidine (see structure). These two bis(indole) alkaloids were isolated from the leaves of Tabernaemontana divaricata and have interesting biological characteristics. Their highly convergent synthesis features the regio- and diastereoselective Polonovski–Potier-type reaction for the coupling of two pentacyclic aspidosperma skeletons and the formation of the dihydrofuran ring. This synthesis represents the first construction of this class of dimeric indole alkaloids.