Reaction of indole-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride with (3-bromo-4-pyridyl)triisopropoxytitanium: Synthesis of ellipticine

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(96)01768-6

N-Benzylindole-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride (1) was reacted with (3-bromo-4-pyridyl)triisopropoxytitanium to give 2-(3-bromoisonicotinoyl)indole-3-carboxylic acid (2) as the sole product in high yield, which could be converted to ellipticine in six steps.