Divergence

This illustration is inspired by a research article that describes a new and efficient way to produce certain natural compounds called pyrroloiminoquinone alkaloids in the laboratory. These alkaloids are found in marine and fungal sources and are known for their diverse biological activities, such as anti-tumour and anti-viral properties.

Traditional methods of producing these compounds involve a complex and time-consuming process. The authors of this study have developed a different approach to make these compounds faster and more flexible. They focused on a specific part of the alkaloid structure, called the C10 nitrogen, and found a way to introduce it early in the synthesis process.

The key to their method is a special chemical reaction called Larock/Buchwald-Hartwig annulation/cyclization. This reaction helps to rapidly build the core structure of the alkaloids. The authors also used a combination of two special compounds (ligands) to improve the efficiency of this reaction.