Regio- and Stereospecific Construction of 3a-(1<i>H</i>‑Indol-3-yl)pyrrolidinoindolines and Application to the Formal Syntheses of Gliocladins B and C

A one-pot regio- and stereospecific strategy for the construction of 3a-(3-indolyl)-hexahydropyrrolo­[2,3-<i>b</i>]­indoles based on the condensation of an indole and an in situ generated cyclopropylazetoindoline has been developed. This unified strategy works with a variety of substituted indoles to produce 3a-(3-indolyl)­hexahydropyrrolo­[2,3-<i>b</i>]­indole products in high yields. The utility of this transformation was highlighted in the formal total syntheses of gliocladins B and C