Total Synthesis of Dictyodendrins B and E

The concise synthesis of the novel telomerase inhibitors dictyodendrins B and E was completed in only 9 and 11 steps (longest linear sequence). The highly convergent strategy employed a palladium-catalyzed Larock indole synthesis and a palladium-mediated one-pot consecutive Buchwald–Hartwig amination/C–H activation reaction as key steps. The present synthesis exhibits respectable levels of atom-, redox-, and step-economy.