Highly Efficient Formal [2+2+2] Strategy for the Rapid Construction of Polycyclic Spiroindolines: A Concise Synthesis of 11-Demethoxy-16-epi-myrtoidine.

A novel formal [2+2+2] strategy for the stereoselective elaboration of polycyclic indole alkaloids is described. Upon treatment with the catalyst InCl3 (5 mol %), tryptamine-derived enamides reacted readily with methylene malonate, thus enabling rapid and gram-scale access to versatile tetracyclic spiroindolines with excellent diastereoselectivity (21 examples, up to 95 % yield, up to d.r.>95:5). This strategy provides a concise approach to alkaloids isolated from Strychnos myrtoides, as demonstrated by a short synthesis of 11-demethoxy-16-epi-myrtoidine.