A rapid stereocontrolled synthesis of the 3a-hydroxy-pyrrolo[2,3-b]indole skeleton, a building block for 10b-hydroxy-pyrazino[1',2':1,5]pyrrolo[2,3-b]indole-1,4-diones.

A two-step selenocyclisation-oxidative deselenaton sequence was used to establish the 3a-hydroxy-pyrrolo[2,3-b]indole core; these tricycles were used as effective precursors to 10b-hydroxy-pyrazino[1',2':1,5]pyrrolo[2,3-b]indole-1,4-diones.