Syntheses of Batzelline A, Batzeline B, Isobatzelline A, and Isobatzelline B

Batzellines A and B (1a, b) and isobatzellines A and B (2a, b) are 1,3,4,5-tetrahydropyrrolo[4,3,2-de]quinoline-containing marine alkaloids characterized by the presence of a methylthio substituent at C-2 of the tricyclic system. We describe here the total synthesis of these natural compounds following the synthetic strategy that we have used previously for the synthesis of damirones A and B, batzelline C, isobatzelline C, discorhabdin C, and makaluvamines A, B, C, and D. The introduction of the methylthio group by electrophilic substitution of a pyrrolo[4,3,2-de]quinoline, appropriately substituted and in a suitable oxidation state, is the key step in the success of these syntheses.