Total Synthesis of (±)-Decursivine via BINOL-Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Tandem Oxidative Cyclization

Synthesis of tetracyclic indole alkaloid (±)-decursivine was accomplished through BINOL-phosphoric acid catalyzed tandem oxidative cyclization as a key step with hypervalent bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo)benzene (PIFA) as an oxidizing agent. This represents one of the shortest and highest yielding route for the synthesis of (±)-decursivine from readily available starting materials.