Synthesis of Hexahydroindoles by Intramolecular CH Alkenylation: Application to the Synthesis of the Core of Aeruginosins

Give me five: Pd-catalyzed intramolecular CH arylations have been successfully extended to alkenylations. This method shows remarkable selectivity and gives synthetically useful hexahydroindoles, as illustrated with the synthesis of the octahydroindole core of the aeruginosin family of natural products (see picture).