Enantiospecific, stereospecific total synthesis of the oxindole alkaloid alstonisine

The total synthesis of alstonisine was accomplished in enantiospecific fashion in an overall yield of 12% (from tryptophan methyl ester) in 17 reaction vessels. The structure of alstonisine (1) has been determined by NOE spectroscopic experiments and was confirmed by singlecrystal X-ray analysis.