Synthesis of the tetracyclic skeleton of Aspidosperma alkaloids via PET-initiated cationic radical-derived interrupted [2 + 2]/retro-Mannich reaction

• Ru-Dong Liu,
• Jian-Yu Long,
• Zhi-Lin Song,
• Zhen Yang and
• Zhong-Chao Zhang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2470–2478, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.189

• 62% and 58%, respectively. Computational study The synthesis of (±)-aspidospermidine (1) and (±)-limaspermidine (2) showcased the effectiveness of our strategy for constructing complex monoterpene indole alkaloids [26]. In this work, we turned our attention to investigating the mechanistic

• functionalized C5 atom in the formed ABCE tetracyclic core provides potential opportunities for accessing more complex indole alkaloids. The extensive DFT study indicated that the observed PET-initiated cationic radical-derived reaction proceeds via an unconventional formal 1,3-C shift, which is neither

The application of desymmetric enantioselective reduction of cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in the total synthesis of terpenoid and alkaloid natural products

• Dong-Xing Tan and
• Fu-She Han

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2085–2102, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.164

• (−)-aspidospermidine (−)-Hunterine A (14) and (−)-aspidospermidine (15) are monoterpene indole alkaloids, which were isolated from Hunteria zeylanica and Apocynaceae plants, respectively [56][57]. Structurally, these two natural products both contain the fused polycyclic skeleton core bearing four consecutive

Bioinspired total syntheses of natural products: a personal adventure

• Zhengyi Qin,
• Yuting Yang,
• Nuran Yan,
• Xinyu Liang,
• Zhiyu Zhang,
• Yaxuan Duan,
• Huilin Li and
• Xuegong She

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2048–2061, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.160

• with an acid and base-promoted saponification inversed the C12 alcohol stereochemistry, which ultimately provided (12R)-hydroxymonocerin. Total synthesis and bioinspired skeletal diversification of (12-MeO)-tabertinggine In 2013, Kam and co-workers reported the discovery of two novel indole alkaloids

Enantioselective desymmetrization strategy of prochiral 1,3-diols in natural product synthesis

• Lihua Wei,
• Rui Yang,
• Zhifeng Shi and
• Zhiqiang Ma

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1932–1963, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.151

• indole derivatives mediated by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) is an efficient strategy that the Cook group utilized in the total synthesis of several indole alkaloids [75][76][77]. In 2005, they reported the synthesis of vincamajine-related indole alkaloids, among which

Convenient alternative synthesis of the Malassezia-derived virulence factor malassezione and related compounds

• Karu Ramesh and
• Stephen L. Bearne

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1730–1736, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.135

• . 5%. Furthermore, the present method may also be used to prepare related compounds. Keywords: bis(aryl/heteroaryl)ketones; EDC; indole alkaloids; malassezione; Introduction Lipophilic yeasts of the genus Malassezia are commensal fungi that constitute the normal skin microbiota; however, when they

• nitrogen source followed by thin-layer chromatography and reversed-phase (RP)-HPLC to isolate and purify the compound from a complex mixture of indole alkaloids [11], (ii) prepared by aerobic incubation of indole-3-pyruvic acid at pH 7.4, 37 °C for 24 h followed by isolation and purification using RP-HPLC

Synthesis of spiroindolenines through a one-pot multistep process mediated by visible light

• Francesco Gambuti,
• Jacopo Pizzorno,
• Chiara Lambruschini,
• Renata Riva and
• Lisa Moni

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2722–2731, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.230

• indole alkaloids. Here, we develop a novel approach for the one-pot multistep synthesis of different spiro[indole-isoquinolines]. The protocol proposed involves the visible light mediated oxidation of N-aryl tertiary amines using bromochloroform with the generation of a reactive iminium species, which

Synthetic applications of the Cannizzaro reaction

• Bhaskar Chatterjee,
• Dhananjoy Mondal and
• Smritilekha Bera

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1376–1395, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.120

• -β-lactone core 73 (Scheme 21). An expedient use of the Cannizzaro reaction was exemplified in the noteworthy enantioselective synthesis towards the indole alkaloids 16-epivellosimine, (+)-polyneuridine, and (+)-macusine A as reported by Cook and coworkers [89]. This was effectively worked out from ᴅ

• intramolecular Cannizzaro reaction. Spiro-β-lactone-γ-lactam part of oxazolomycins via aldol crossed-Cannizzaro reaction. Synthesis of indole alkaloids via aldol crossed-Cannizzaro reaction. Aldol and crossed-Cannizzaro reaction towards the synthesis of ertuliflozin. Synthesis of cyclooctadieneones using a

Chemical and biosynthetic potential of Penicillium shentong XL-F41

• Ran Zou,
• Xin Li,
• Xiaochen Chen,
• Yue-Wei Guo and
• Baofu Xu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 597–606, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.52

• ]. Recent studies have revealed that certain fungi are also prolific sources of indole alkaloids, which are among the largest classes of nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites. Characterized by at least one indole moiety and derived from tryptophan or tryptamine, indole alkaloids are known for their

• diverse structures, electron-donating capabilities, and excellent biocompatibility, contributing to their potent antibacterial and anticancer activities [9][10]. Over 4000 species [8] producing indole alkaloids have been identified, and many of these compounds are now successfully employed in clinical

• in the future. Conclusion In the present study, we fermented Penicillium shentong XL-F41 by adding a series of elicitors in the medium, which led us to identify twelve compounds, including two new indole alkaloids, shentonins A and B (1 and 2), and a new fatty acid (3). Notably, compound 1 differs

Photoredox catalysis enabling decarboxylative radical cyclization of γ,γ-dimethylallyltryptophan (DMAT) derivatives: formal synthesis of 6,7-secoagroclavine

• Alessio Regni,
• Francesca Bartoccini and
• Giovanni Piersanti

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 918–927, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.70

• : 1) it functions as the central intermediate in the biosynthetic pathways leading to numerous prenylated indole alkaloids, such as ergot alkaloids in normal biosynthesis and clavicipitic acid in derailment biosynthesis [68][69][70][71]; and 2) the mechanism of the fundamental central C-ring formation

Combining the best of both worlds: radical-based divergent total synthesis

• Kyriaki Gennaiou,
• Antonios Kelesidis,
• Maria Kourgiantaki and
• Alexandros L. Zografos

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1–26, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.1

• reduction steps allowed the total synthesis of GB13 (8), himgaline (126), and GB22 (125) in only one third of the number of steps of prior syntheses (Scheme 10). Concise syntheses of eburnane alkaloids (Qin 2018) [68][69]: Eburnane indole alkaloids comprise a highly diverse class of natural products mainly

Natural products in the predatory defence of the filamentous fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus

• Jana M. Boysen,
• Nauman Saeed and
• Falk Hillmann

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 1814–1827, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.124

• molecules like non-ribosomal peptides (NRP), polyketides (PK), terpenes or indole alkaloids [10][11]. The vast majority of fungal BGCs is found in the genomes of members of the Basidiomycota and Ascomycota including the genus Penicillium in which the first BGC was identified in 1990 [12][13][14

• mellonella [66]. Fumitremorgins The class of fumitremorgins comprises several diketopiperazine alkaloids which are tremorgenic mycotoxins. However, there are several fumitremorgin-like indole alkaloids including tryprostatins, spiro- and cyclotryprostatins and verruculogen besides fumitremorgins themselves

Iodine-catalyzed electrophilic substitution of indoles: Synthesis of (un)symmetrical diindolylmethanes with a quaternary carbon center

• Thanigaimalai Pillaiyar,
• Masoud Sedaghati,
• Andhika B. Mahardhika,
• Lukas L. Wendt and
• Christa E. Müller

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 1464–1475, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.102

• affinity; cannabinoid receptors; diindolylmethane; unsymmetrical 3,3'-diindolylmethane; Introduction Diindolylmethanes (DIMs) represent an important class of indole alkaloids, that are constituents of pharmaceuticals [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] and agrochemicals [8][9]. DIM derivatives possess a variety of

N-tert-Butanesulfinyl imines in the asymmetric synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles

• Joseane A. Mendes,
• Paulo R. R. Costa,
• Miguel Yus,
• Francisco Foubelo and
• Camilla D. Buarque

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 1096–1140, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.86

All-carbon [3 + 2] cycloaddition in natural product synthesis

• Zhuo Wang and
• Junyang Liu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 3015–3031, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.251

• -workers used a platinum-catalyzed intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition of a propargylic ketal derivative to complete the total synthesis of Kopsia indole alkaloids [67] (Scheme 11). The platinum-catalyzed intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition of propargylic ketal derivative 142 afforded indoline 143 in 58

A novel and robust heterogeneous Cu catalyst using modified lignosulfonate as support for the synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles

• Bingbing Lai,
• Meng Ye,
• Ping Liu,
• Minghao Li,
• Rongxian Bai and
• Yanlong Gu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 2888–2902, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.238

• activity in organic reactions. Tricyclic indole alkaloids bearing 3,4-fused seven-membered rings have attracted much attention because of their interesting molecular architectures and important biological activities [32][33]. Here the three-component reaction of 4-aminoindole (1a), 4-methylbenzaldehyde (2a

Synthesis of new dihydroberberine and tetrahydroberberine analogues and evaluation of their antiproliferative activity on NCI-H1975 cells

• Giacomo Mari,
• Lucia De Crescentini,
• Serena Benedetti,
• Francesco Palma,
• Stefania Santeusanio and
• Fabio Mantellini

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 1606–1616, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.133

• ], antiprotozoal [47], antidiabetic [48], and antitubercular [49]. Relevant is the role of the hydrazone moiety as antitumor agent [50][51][52][53]. An interesting example reported by Ferreira demonstrates that the chemical derivatization of the indole alkaloids dregamine and tabernaemontanine to yield new

Synthesis of 3-alkenylindoles through regioselective C–H alkenylation of indoles by a ruthenium nanocatalyst

• Abhijit Paul,
• Debnath Chatterjee,
• Srirupa Banerjee and
• Somnath Yadav

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 140–148, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.16

• years, as these are the vital structural motifs of several biologically and medicinally important compounds [1][2][3][4]. Also, 3-alkenylindoles act as fundamental building blocks for the synthesis of materials such as carbazoles [5][6], indole alkaloids [7][8][9], etc. Again, 3-alkenylindoles also form

Conjugated nitrosoalkenes as Michael acceptors in carbon–carbon bond forming reactions: a review and perspective

• Yaroslav D. Boyko,
• Valentin S. Dorokhov,
• Alexey Yu. Sukhorukov and
• Sema L. Ioffe

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2017, 13, 2214–2234, doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.220

• , which served as a direct precursor of target alkaloids alstilobanines A, E and angustilodine. The same strategy was employed to construct the tetracyclic core of the apparicine class of indole alkaloids (see Scheme 14) [36]. Here, coupling of indole dianion 40 with chlorooxime 35 (via nitrosoalkene NSA8

Posttranslational isoprenylation of tryptophan in bacteria

• Masahiro Okada,
• Tomotoshi Sugita and
• Ikuro Abe

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2017, 13, 338–346, doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.37

• . ComQ lacks homology to cysteine isoprenyltransferases, tryptophan dimethylallyltransferases for cyanobactins [2][37][38] or prenyltransferases for indole alkaloids [39][40][41][42]. However, ComQ shares some homology with farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) synthases and geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP

• ABBA fold and exhibits some similarity to other dimethylallyltransferases for cyanobactins and prenyltransferases for indole alkaloids, but lacks similarity to cysteine isoprenyltransferases and ComQs [2][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44]. Considering the in vitro prenylation analysis of KgpF together

Chiral ammonium betaine-catalyzed asymmetric Mannich-type reaction of oxindoles

• Masahiro Torii,
• Kohsuke Kato,
• Daisuke Uraguchi and
• Takashi Ooi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 2099–2103, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.199

• quaternary and tertiary stereogenic carbon centers on biologically intriguing molecular frameworks with high fidelity. Keywords: ammonium betaine; asymmetric catalysis; Mannich reaction; organocatalysis; oxindole; Introduction Chiral indole alkaloids possessing C-3 quaternary indoline frameworks are an

Varioloid A, a new indolyl-6,10b-dihydro-5aH-[1]benzofuro[2,3-b]indole derivative from the marine alga-derived endophytic fungus Paecilomyces variotii EN-291

• Peng Zhang,
• Xiao-Ming Li,
• Xin-Xin Mao,
• Attila Mándi,
• Tibor Kurtán and
• Bin-Gui Wang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 2012–2018, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.188

• DPPH radical scavenging activity [11], and two new prenylated indole alkaloids with cytotoxic activity [12] had been isolated and identified. In an effort to isolate additional analogues that might show similar effects, a larger fermentation was undertaken. This study led to the isolation of two

Synthesis of 2-oxindoles via 'transition-metal-free' intramolecular dehydrogenative coupling (IDC) of sp² C–H and sp³ C–H bonds

• Nivesh Kumar,
• Santanu Ghosh,
• Subhajit Bhunia and
• Alakesh Bisai

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 1153–1169, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.111

• recently gained immense importance. 2-Oxindoles having all carbon quaternary centres at the pseudobenzylic position are common structural scaffolds in many naturally occurring alkaloids of biological relevance [22][23][24][25]. These heterocyclic motifs especially exist in indole alkaloids with a wide

• focussed our attention to prenylated, reverse-prenylated, and geranylated hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole alkaloids showing broad biological activities [55][56][57][58][59][60][61]. For the synthesis of these compounds, we thought of utilizing the Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative strategy to install the prenyl

• the results are summarized in Figure 5. Interestingly, under this conditions, we can synthesize a variety of 2-oxindoles 8 in moderate to good yields. There are a large number of indole alkaloids bearing a 3-arylated-2-oxindole moiety that are known for their various biological activities [65][66][67

Study on the synthesis of the cyclopenta[f]indole core of raputindole A

• Nils Marsch,
• Mario Kock and
• Thomas Lindel

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 334–342, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.36

• which provided the hydrogenated tricyclic cyclopenta[f]indole core system in high yield. Keywords: gold-catalyzed reactions; heterocycles; indole alkaloids; natural products; synthesis; Introduction The raputindoles (1, raputindole A, Figure 1) from the rutaceous tree Raputia simulans Kallunki

SmI₂-mediated dimerization of indolylbutenones and synthesis of the myxobacterial natural product indiacen B

• Nils Marsch,
• Peter G. Jones and
• Thomas Lindel

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2015, 11, 1700–1706, doi:10.3762/bjoc.11.184

• , confirming its antimicrobial activity. The E-configuration of the chloroalkene moiety of indiacen B was confirmed by X-ray analysis. Keywords: biological evaluation; heterocycles; indoles; natural products; total synthesis; Introduction Indole alkaloids prenylated at the benzene ring are found in tropical

• -methylbuta-1,3-dien-1-yl)indole [7]. All enamine positions of the indole units are unsubstituted. As part of our program on the total synthesis of prenylated indole alkaloids [8][9][10][11], we considered it interesting to access indoles substituted only at the benzene ring and to conduct initial studies on

• product indiacen B (2), which was synthesized for the first time, was confirmed by X-ray analysis. The antimicrobial activity of synthetic indiacen B (2) was in the same range as that originally determined for the isolated natural product. Prenylated indole alkaloids raputindole A from the rutaceous tree

Chiral phosphines in nucleophilic organocatalysis

• Yumei Xiao,
• Zhanhu Sun,
• Hongchao Guo and
• Ohyun Kwon

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2014, 10, 2089–2121, doi:10.3762/bjoc.10.218

• material, the bridged tetracyclic framework of the Alstonia class of indole alkaloids was readily formed in high yield. This asymmetric [4 + 2] annulation was a seminal advance in the area of nucleophilic phosphine catalysis, attracting much attention toward chiral phosphine-catalyzed asymmetric reactions