Synthesis of Aristotelia-Type Alkaloids. Part XIII. Total syntheses of (+)-makonine, (+)-aristotelinone,and (+)-11,12-didehydroaristoteline

The oxidative transformation of synthetic (+)-aristoteline ((+)- 6 ) into other metabolites which had been isolated from Aristotelia species was investigated. Thus, treatment of (+)- 6 with I₂ as the single oxidant furnished the naturally occurring indole alkaloids (+)-makonine ((+)- 9 ),(+)-aristotelinone ((+)- 11 ), or (+)-11, 12-didehydroaristoteline ((+)- 7 ) in good yields, the selectivity of the oxidation process depending on the chosen reaction conditions.