Concise, asymmetric total synthesis of spirotryprostatin A

The structurally intriguing cell-cycle inhibitor spirotryprostatin A has been synthesized utilizing an azomethine ylide dipolar cycloaddition reaction as the key step. This pentacyclic alkaloid contains a prenylated tryptophan-derived oxindole moiety that has been created in a regiocontrolled and stereocontrolled manner in a single step.