Synthesis of heterocyclic natural products: Model studies towards diazonamide A

Abstract

Model studies towards the total synthesis of the cytotoxic marine natural product diazonamide A are described. The approach uses rhodium(II) catalysed reactions of diazocarbonyl compounds in 4 key steps; the construction of the oxazole rings by the rhodium(II) catalysed addition of diazocarbonyl compounds to nitriles, and of the indole and benzofuran units by rhodium(II) mediated intramolecular aromatic C–H insertion reactions. © 1994 IUPAC