Synthesis of the reported structure of the bisbenzoquinone lanciaquinone, isolated from Maesa lanceolata

Lanciaquinone, isolated from Maesa lanceolata, was originally assigned as a bisbenzoquinone with a C14-chain linking the two quinone rings. A synthesis of the reported structure, in which the key step is a double Claisen rearrangement, suggests that the structure of the natural product needs to be revised.     

Copper-catalysed approach to spirocyclic oxindoles via a direct C–H,Ar-H functionalisation

A practical and efficient entry to spirocyclic oxindoles from readily accessible anilide precursors, using only catalytic amounts of an inexpensive copper salt together with air as the sole re-oxidant, is described. In addition to providing access to a broad range of spiro-oxindole products, the utility of this method is demonstrated in a formal synthesis of the natural product, horsfiline.