Modular Total Syntheses of the Alkaloids Discoipyrroles A and B, Potent Inhibitors of the DDR2 Signaling Pathway

The title natural product 1 has been synthesized by treating the 1,2,3,5-tetrasubstituted pyrrole 23 with oxoperoxymolybdenum(pyridine) (hexamethylphosphoric triamide) (MoOPH). Compound 23 was itself prepared in seven steps from parent pyrrole using Ullmann-Goldberg and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling, Vilsmeier-Haack formylation, electrophilic bromination, and Wittig olefination reactions as key steps. Related chemistry has been used to prepare discoipyrrole B (2).We thank the Australian Research Council and the Institute of Advanced Studies for financial support. Y.Z. gratefully acknowledges the China Scholarship Council for support