One-pot biomimetic total synthesis of yuehchukene via the organocatalytic alkylation–cyclization process of a sterically encumbered α-alkyl enal

Abstract

A concise synthesis of yuehchukene has been achieved using organocatalytic Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indole to a sterically encumbered α-alkyl enal as the key step. A racemization process during the subsequent cyclization steps of the conjugate adduct to yuehchukene was observed.