Pardon the Interruption: A Modification of Fischer’s Venerable ­Reaction for the Synthesis of Heterocycles and Natural Products

Abstract

This account provides an overview of our laboratory’s studies of an unusual variant of the Fischer indolization reaction. We describe the discovery of the so-called ‘interrupted Fischer indolization’ and the development of the reaction from a methodological standpoint. In addition, our efforts to evaluate and apply this methodology in the context of akuammiline alkaloid total synthesis are discussed.