First efficient synthesis of novel oxophenyl-arcyriaflavin analogs

New oxophenylarcyriaflavins were synthesized in a few efficient steps. The key steps involved at first a palladium cross-coupling between the 3-bromo-4-(1H-indol-3-yl)1-methylpyrrole-2,5-dione and the 2-formylphenylboronic acid or a methyl 2-trialkylstannylbenzoate, followed by an intramolecular acylation in a C-2 indolic position. All the sequence was carried out without any indolic protective group.