Asymmetric Synthesis of the Aromatic Fragment of Sespendole

Sespendole is an indole sesquiterpene alkaloid bearing two isoprenyl groups, one of which is highly oxidized. Herein, we disclose an eight-step synthesis of the aromatic fragment of sespendole in an optically pure form, starting from 4-bromo-2-fluoronitrobenzene. The key steps were a Claisen rearrangement at room temperature for introduction of the prenyl group and a coupling between the dianion generated from prenylated bromo-N-tosylanilide and a chiral epoxy aldehyde.