Intramolecular Larock indole synthesis: preparation of 3,4-fused tricyclic indoles and total synthesis of fargesine.

Core strength: A new and general strategy for the construction of 3,4-fused tricyclic indoles, which are the core structure of numerous natural products and bioactive molecules, has been developed. The method involves a one-step intramolecular Larock indolization and was successfully applied to the first total synthesis of fargesine. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.