A Facile Synthesis Of Rutaecarpine

Total synthesis of rutaecarpine, a unique indoloquinazoline alkaloid from rutaceous plants, has been achieved from 2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-β-carbolin- 1-one. The key step is the Japp-Klingmann condensation between aniline and ethyl 2-[2-(1,3-dioxo-2,3- dihydro-1H-2-isoindolyl ethyl]-3- oxobutanoate.Treatment of 2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-β-carbolin-1-one with methyl anthranilate gives the rutaecarpine.