Synthesis of (2R,3aR,8aR)-6-Chloro-3a-hydroxy-l,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole-2-carboxylic Acid Methyl Ester by Reductive Cyclization

Abstract A synthesis of (2 R ,3a R ,8a R )‐6‐chloro‐3a‐hydroxy‐1,2,3a8,8a‐hexahydropyrrolo[2,3‐ b ]indole‐2‐carboxylic acid methyl ester (1) was achieved. An aldol reaction with Garner aldehyde, a hydroxyl introduction by Davis reagent, and a reductive intramolecular ring‐closure reaction were served as the key steps. This piece of work provides a new way to synthesize the analogues of hexahydropyrrolo[2,3‐b]indole, starting from readily available chemical substrates and inexpensive reagents.