Total synthesis of (+/-)-hapalindole Q.

[reaction: see text] The total synthesis of the antibacterial and antimycotic alkaloid hapalindole Q has been achieved in eight steps and 12.4% overall yield. The key step involves a regio- and diastereoselective Diels-Alder reaction to afford a bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene. This cycloadduct was subsequently dihydroxylated, cleaved, and converted to the natural product.