Synthesis of a benzannulated pyrrolizidine by a copper-catalyzed intramolecular a-arylation reaction.

Abstract

A synthetic route to the pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole ring system (benzannulated pyrrolizidine) involving a base-induced intramolecular aza-Michael reaction as the key C N bond-forming penultimate step, followed by a Cu-catalyzed intramolecular a-arylation reaction, to provide the tricyclic framework over six steps is described.