Total Synthesis of (−)‐Melotenine A

Abstract

Graphical Abstract 'Melo' out: A concise asymmetric synthesis of (−)-melotenine A has been accomplished in fourteen steps and 1 % overall yield from commercial N-tosylindole-3-carboxaldehyde. Key steps include a Piers annulation, an intermolecular vinylogous aldol reaction, and a novel one-pot sequence to prepare the ABCE tetracycle. Boc=tert-butoxycarbonyl, Ts=4-toluenesulfonyl.