Total Syntheses of Kealiinines A–C

Short total syntheses of the Leucetta-derived alkaloids, kealiinines A–C, have been accomplished using an intramolecular Friedel–Crafts–dehydration sequence of a bis benzylic diol. The precursor diol was obtained through a series of position-specific Grignard reactions from 1-methyl-4,5-diiodoimidazole. C2-Azidation and hydrogenation of the azide then provided the reported structures of kealiinines A–C. While the 1H NMR data did not completely match for these materials, the HPLC data were consistent with the assigned structure of these alkaloids.