Formal total synthesis of (±)-cortistatin A

A second-generation synthesis of the pentacyclic core of the cortistatins, a family of rearranged steroidal alkaloids that have recently attracted much attention, is reported. The improved sequence provides access to significant quantities of this key compound, which enabled a formal total synthesis of (±)-cortistatin A by conversion to the key Nicolaou/Hirama dienone. It is anticipated that this new, robust route to the pentacyclic core will facilitate the total synthesis of a range of natural products in the cortistatin family, as well as the construction of key structural analogs to probe the promising biological activity of these important compounds.