Synthesis of Arcyriarubin A and Arcyriaflavin A via Cross-Coupling of Indolylboronic Acid with Dibromomaleimides

Arcyriarubin A was first isolated by Steglich in 1980; it is also the key intermediate in the synthesis of indolocarbazole compounds. A new synthetic approach to the natural products arcyriaflavin A and arcyriarubin A is described. The key step is a Suzuki cross-coupling reaction using indolylboronic acid as the starting material. The preparation of arcyriaflavin A was accomplished in eight steps from indole for a total yield of 21%.