Unified Approach to the Spiro(pyrrolidinyl-oxindole) and Hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole Alkaloids: Total Syntheses of Pseudophrynamines 270 and 272A.

The first enantioselective total syntheses of architecturally interesting prenylated pyrroloindole alkaloids, (-)-pseudophrynamines 272A (3d) and 270 (3b), have been achieved starting from enantioenriched 2-oxindoles having all-carbon quaternary stereocenters. A common strategy involving a thio-urea catalyzed aldol reaction is employed for the total synthesis of both spiro(pyrrolidinyl-oxindole) and hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole alkaloids.