The synthesis of the title compounds, which are novel cyclopent [g] indoles isolated from a marine sponge Trikentrion flabelliforme, is described. An aryl radical cyclization and a 1,5-electrocyclic reaction of a nitrene are key steps in formation of the two five- membered rings.
The synthesis of the title compound, a member of a family of cyclopent[g]indoles isolated from a marine sponge, is described. Most of the synthetic sequence was developed starting from the more readily available cis-1,3-dimethylindan. An X-ray crystal structure of the indanol (24), the precursor of trans-1,3-dimethylindan, confirmed its relative stereochemistry.