Total Synthesis of Olivacine and Ellipticine via a Lactone Ring-Opening and Aromatization Cascade.

Effective preparation of olivacine and ellipticine via late-stage D-ring cyclization is described. Key features of the synthetic routes include trifluoroacetic acid-mediated formation of a lactone that is fused to a tetrahydrocarbazole derivative and its one-pot two-step ring opening and aromatization mediated by para-toluenesulfonic acid and palladium on carbon, respectively.