Construction of Cyclopenta[b]indol-1-ones by a Tandem Gold(I)-Catalyzed Rearrangement/Nazarov Reaction and Application to the Synthesis of Bruceolline H.

A tandem gold(I)-catalyzed rearrangement/Nazarov reaction of enynyl acetates which efficiently provides cyclopenta[b]indol-1-ones as useful precursors for the synthesis of natural and bioactive compounds is described. The synthetic potential of the methodology is demonstrated by the first total synthesis of bruceolline H.