Mitomycin synthetic studies: stereocontrolled and convergent synthesis of a fully elaborated aziridinomitosane

Full details of a stereocontrolled and convergent synthetic route to 9a-desmethoxymitomycin A (1) are reported. The target molecule possesses the parent tetrahydropyrrolo1,2-a]indole ring system characteristic of the mitomycin family of antitumor agents. The synthesis was based on the diastereocontrolled addition of a fully elaborated cinnamylstannane to a pyrrolidine-based N-acyliminium ion as the key convergent step, which resulted in the installation of the C9 and C9a stereogenic centers.