Total synthesis of (±)-cis-trikentrin B via intermolecular 6,7-indole aryne cycloaddition and Stille cross-coupling

An efficient total synthesis of the annulated indole natural product (±)-cis-trikentrin B was accomplished by means of a regioselectively generated 6,7-indole aryne cycloaddition via selective metal–halogen exchange from a 5,6,7-tribromoindole. The unaffected C-5 bromine was subsequently used for a Stille cross-coupling to install the butenyl side chain and complete the synthesis. This strategy provides rapid access into the trikentrins and the related herbindoles, and represents another application of this methodology to natural products total synthesis. The required 5,6,7-indole aryne precursor was prepared using the Leimgruber–Batcho indole synthesis.