title: The formal total synthesis of (+/-)-strychnine via a cobalt-mediated [2 + 2 + 2]cycloaddition.
abstract: A short, highly convergent total synthesis of racemic isostrychnine, and thus strychnine, has been completed. The route involves 14 steps in the longest linear sequence and is highlighted by a cobalt-mediated [2 + 2 + 2]cycloaddition of an alkynylindole nucleus to acetylene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of California at Berkeley, and the Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720-1460, USA. eichberg@socrates.berkeley.edu
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Eichberg
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Dorta
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lamottke
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Vollhardt
mesh_terms: D003035:Cobalt; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013331:Strychnine / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D003035:Cobalt; D013331:Strychnine