Total Synthesis of (±)-Iso- trans -trikentrin B

The synthesis of the title compound, a member of a family of cyclopent[ g ]indoles isolated from a marine sponge, is described. Most of the synthetic sequence was developed starting from the more readily available cis -1,3-dimethylindan. An X-ray crystal structure of the indanol (24), the precursor of trans -1,3-dimethylindan, confirmed its relative stereochemistry.