Extending Pummerer reaction chemistry. Synthesis studies in the phakellin alkaloid area

[GRAPHICS] The syntheses of (+/-)-dibromophakellstatin and, from this species, (+/-)-dibromophakellin are described. Oxidative cyclization of a phenylthiolated dihydrooroidin derivative triggered by a Pummerer reaction constitutes the key step in this biomimetic approach to this family of marine alkaloids.