Synthetic Study of Dragmacidin E: Construction of the Core Structure Using Pd-Catalyzed Cascade Cyclization and Rh-Catalyzed Aminoacetoxylation.

We developed a novel synthetic method of the core structure of dragmacidin E bearing a 7-membered ring-fused bis(indolyl)pyrazinone skeleton. Formation of the 7-membered ring-fused tricyclic indole skeleton was accomplished using a palladium-catalyzed Heck insertion-allylic amination cascade. Vicinal difunctionalization of the 7-membered ring was realized via a rhodium-catalyzed aminoacetoxylation.

Platinum-Catalyzed Friedel-Crafts-Type C-H Coupling-Allylic Amination Cascade to Synthesize 3,4-Fused Tricyclic Indoles.

A novel platinum-catalyzed cascade cyclization reaction was developed by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts-type C-H coupling of aniline derivatives with a propargyl carbonate unit-allylic amination sequence. Treatment of various propargyl carbonates tethered to meta-aniline derivatives with a Pt(dba)3/DPEphos catalyst system afforded the corresponding 3,4-fused tricyclic 3-alkylidene indolines in 42-99% yield, which were transformed into 3,4-fused indole derivatives by reaction with trifluoroacetic acid. The reaction products exhibited antiproliferative activities against cancer cells, but not normal cells, revealing the potential usefulness of this reaction for medicinal chemistry.

Pd-catalyzed cascade cyclization by intramolecular Heck insertion of an allene-allylic amination sequence: application to the synthesis of 3,4-fused tricyclic indoles.

A novel Pd-catalyzed cascade cyclization by intramolecular Heck insertion of an allene-allylic amination sequence was developed. Allenes tethered to ortho-iodoaniline derivatives at the meta-position were reacted with 5-10 mol % of Pd catalyst and 4 equiv of K2CO3 in DMSO at 90 °C, producing 3,4-fused tricyclic 3-alkylidene indoline derivatives in moderate to excellent yield. The reaction products were divergently transformed into three types of 3,4-fused tricyclic indole derivatives, successfully demonstrating the versatile properties of the reaction products.