Synthesis of 3-[2-(1,3-butadienyl)]-1H-indoles en route to murrapanine analogue

A three-step procedure has been developed for the synthesis of 3-[2-(1,3-butadienyl)]-1H-indoles. TBAF was proved to be an effective reagent for dehydrobromination and carbomethoxy deprotection in one step to give 3-[2-(1,3-butadienyl)]-1H-indoles from the corresponding bromo-derivatives. Suitably substituted indolyl-1,3-butadiene has been successfully applied to prepare murrapanine analogue via Diels–Alder reaction.