Total synthesis of (±)-trigonoliimine C via oxidative rearrangement of an unsymmetrical bis-tryptamine.

We report the first total synthesis of (±)-trigonoliimine C, a member of a family of structurally complex alkaloids, in 10 steps from tryptamine and 6-methoxytryptamine. Our convergent synthetic strategy relies on a selective oxidative rearrangement of an unsymmetrical 2,2'-bis-tryptamine.