Total syntheses of (-)- and (+)-goniomitine

The Stille coupling reaction of 3-(benzyloxymethyl)-1-(tert-butyldiphenylsiloxy)ethyl-1-(tributylstannyl)allene with N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-iodoaniline directly produced the corresponding 2-vinylindole derivative, which was independently transformed into natural (-)-goniomitine and unnatural (+)-goniomitine via the cross-metathesis with chiral oxazolopiperidone lactams. The antiproliferative activity of the synthesized natural (-)-goniomitine in Mock and MDCK/MDR1 cells showed them to be more potent to retard cell growth than unnatural (+)-goniomitine.