Synthesis of Carbazole Alkaloids

The synthesis of a range of carbazole alkaloids (murrayaquinones-A and -B, murrayafoline-A, ellipticine, carbazomycins A and B, hyellazole, carazostatin and staurosporinone) is discussed with emphasis on the development of new methodology, in particular the Diels-Alder reactions of pyranoindolones with alkynes. 1. Introduction 2. Background 3. Mutrayaquinones-A and -B, and murrayafoline-A 4. Ellipticine 5. Carbazomycins A and B 6. Hyellazole and Carazostatin 7. The Staurosporine Aglycon (Staurosporinone)