Enantioselective synthesis of marine indole alkaloid hamacanthin B.

An enantioselective total synthesis of hamacanthin B (1) is described. This synthesis is based on the asymmetric synthesis of (S)-2-azido-(indol-3-yl)ethylamine 7, which is coupled with the 3-indolyl-alpha-oxoacetyl chloride 8 and subsequently used in a successful intramolecular Staudinger-aza Wittig cyclization to form the central dihydropyrazinone ring. The stereochemistry of naturally isolated hamacanthin B is revealed as the (S)-configuration.