Synthesis of dragmacidin D via direct C-H couplings

Dragmacidin D, an emerging biologically active marine natural product, has attracted attention as a lead compound for treating Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Prominent structural features of this compound are the two indole-pyrazinone bonds and the presence of a polar aminoimidazole unit. We have established a concise total synthesis of dragmacidin D using direct C-H coupling reactions. Methodological developments include (i) Pd-catalyzed thiophene-indole C-H/C-I coupling, (ii) Pd-catalyzed indole-pyrazine N-oxide C-H/C-H coupling, and (iii) acid-catalyzed indole-pyrazinone C-H/C-H coupling. These regioselective catalytic C-H couplings enabled us to rapidly assemble simple building blocks to construct the core structure of dragmacidin D in a step-economical fashion.