Formal Synthesis of Dictyodendrin B.

A formal synthesis of dictyodendrin B is described. Regiocontrolled functionalization of the α,β-dibromopyrrole derivative provided the fully substituted pyrrole bearing an indole moiety. Subsequent reductive cyclization using a combination of sodium dispersion and triethylsilyl chloride enabled the formation of the benzene ring in the characteristic tetracyclic pyrrolo[2,3-c]carbazole skeleton, while the ethyl ester remained untouched. Further chemical transformation of the ester moiety and functional group manipulation completed the formal synthesis of dictyodendrin B.