Total Synthesis of (±)-Deethylibophyllidine: Studies of a Fischer Indolization Route and a Successful Approach via a Pummerer Rearrangement/Thionium Ion-Mediated Indole Cyclization

Abstract
The total synthesis of (±)-deethylibophyllidine is described, proceeding in eight steps from 4-(methoxyphenyl)ethylamine in 5% overall yield (Scheme 6). In terms of sequential annulation, the strategy involves the following operations: E → DE → ABDE → ABCDE (Scheme 1). The key steps in the synthesis are the stereoselective formation of octahydroindol-6-ones by acid treatment of dihydroanisole derivatives, the regioselective Fischer indolization to obtain octahydropyrrolo[3,2-c]carbazoles, and the tandem process consisting of Pummerer rearrangement upon a β-amino sulfoxide and thionium ion cyclization upon a β-indole position of a 2,3-disubstituted indole to generate the quaternary spiro center. Attempts to effect the construction of the pentacyclic framework by means of Fischer indolization of the octahydropyrrolo[3,2,1-hi]indol-6-one resulted in failure (Scheme 2).

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