10.1016/j.tetasy.2009.01.001
Prasad B. Wakchaure, Vedavati G. Puranik, and Narshinha P. Argade describe a stereoselective synthesis of enantiomerically pure (+)-isoindole-b-carbolines starting from homophthalic anhydride (a cyclic anhydride with a benzene ring and two carboxylic acid groups) and (S)-tryptophan. The synthesis involves several key steps: homophthalimide formation, oxidative ring contraction, intramolecular dehydration ring closure, and geometry-specific demethoxycarbonylation. The authors achieved an overall yield of 35% and an enantiomeric excess (ee) of 98% by optimizing conditions and combining air oxidation, acid-catalyzed cyclization, and demethoxycarbonylation. The study highlights the importance of chemoselective oxidation and the remarkable diastereoselectivity obtained during the intramolecular cyclization. The final product was confirmed by X-ray crystallography and chiral HPLC analysis, indicating that the target compound was successfully synthesized with high stereoselectivity.