Baylis-Hillman Acetates in Synthesis: Copper(I)/tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide Promoted One-Pot Oxidative Intramolecular Cyclization Protocol for the Preparation of Pyrrole-Fused Compounds and the Formal Synthesis of (±)-Crispine A

A convenient one-pot protocol for the synthesis of benzo-fused and indole-fused indolizines from Baylis-Hillman acetates was developed. This strategy involves CuBr/tert-butyl hydroperoxide promoted oxidation, intramolecular cyclization, and aromatization as key steps. The efficacy of this methodology was demonstrated by the formal synthesis of (+/-)-crispine A, a biologically active molecule.