Total synthesis of HPI alkaloids Esermethole

The hexahydropyrrolo2,3-bindole, usually referred to as the pyrroloindoline, is a intriguing stuctural heterocyclic framework in the indole akaloids family. Owing to the presence of C3a all-carbon quaternary stereocenters unique architecture in the HPI akaloids, stereocontrolled synthesis of the congested all-carbon quaternary stereocenters in these alkaloids pose a great synthetic challenge. In this paper, we report an efficent total synthesis of HPI alkaloids Esermethole via copper-catalyzed cascade reaction.