The Synthesis Aplysinopsins, Meridianines, and Related Compounds

Aplysinopsins and meridianines have been isolated from various marine organisms. They exhibit interesting biological activity, such as cytotoxicity and neurotransmission effects. Various synthetic approaches towards these two classes of natural products and their synthetic analogs have been developed. Most syntheses of aplysinopsins, meridianines, and their analogs are based either on coupling of two heterocyclic moieties via the methylidene bridge, or on heterocyclization of indoles, functionalized at position 3.