Diversification of monoterpene indole alkaloid analogs through cross-coupling.

Catharanthus roseus monoterpene indole alkaloid analogs have been produced via a combination of biosynthetic and chemical strategies. Specifically, introduction of a chemical handle-a chlorine or a bromine-into the target molecule by mutasynthesis, followed by postbiosynthetic chemical derivatization using Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions robustly afforded aryl and heteroaryl analogs of these alkaloids.