Enantiospecific Total Syntheses of (+)-Hapalindole H and (-)-12-epi-Hapalindole U.

Enantiospecific total syntheses of (+)-hapalindole H and (-)-12-epi-hapalindole U as well as the formal syntheses of (+)-hapalindole Q and (+)-12-epi-fischerindole U isothiocyanate have been described. Key steps of our approach feature expedient, highly regio- and diastereoselective Lewis acid catalyzed Friedel-Crafts reaction of indole with cyclic allylic alcohols and intramolecular reductive Heck reaction. Efficiency of the synthetic route also relies on an alkynyl aluminate complex driven regioselective nucleophilic epoxide opening from a sterically hindered site.