Support studies toward the hicksoane alkaloids reveal cascade reactions of a (tryptophanamido)methylglycinate†
Tilo
Söhnel 
a
and
Jonathan
Sperry
*a
a
and
Jonathan
Sperry
*a
Abstract
Herein we report unanticipated results that emerged from a synthetic study targeting the unique triazocane present in the hicksoane alkaloids. An initial strategy focused on the cyclisation-ring expansion of a 3-(tryptophyl)imidazolidin-4-one failed due to the high reactivity of the imide unit; passing a methanolic solution of this compound through a weakly basic ion exchange resin led to methanolysis to form a (tryptophanamido)methylglycinate. Attempted lactamisation of this (tryptophanamido)methylglycinate led to the formation of a (tryptophyl)imidazolidin-4-one, a rare imidazopyrido[3,4-b]indolone and a β-carboline. Control reactions informed a mechanistic rationale for these cascade processes.
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