Short, flexible synthesis of ellipticine
Abstract
Ellipticine has been synthesised from 1-phenyl-sulphonylindol-2-yl 3-acetylpyridin-4-yl ketone by introducing the C-5-methyl via a Wittig reaction and catalytic reduction after selective protection of the acetyl carbonyl; acidic removal of the acetal group then led directly to the alkaloid.