A concise approach to tetracyclic spiroamine scaffold of erythrinan alkaloids via an oxidative dearomatization-spirocyclization sequence

This paper describes a novel synthetic approach to 11,12-dimethoxy-8,9-dihydro-1H-indolo[7a,1-a]isoquinoline-2,6-dione, which is a key synthetic intermediate to some erythrinan alkaloids. This concise approach features an oxidative dearomatization-spirocyclization sequence mediated by phenyliodine (III) bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA) that efficiently forms the tetracyclic spiroamine scaffold. An unusual solvent effect in the oxidative dearomatization-spirocyclization sequence is also described.