Total synthesis of (−)-martinellic acid

An enantioselective formal total synthesis of the pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinoline natural product martinellic acid has been achieved. The key steps involve a Pd-catalyzed aryl amidation reaction of a pyrroglutamate derivative, an intramolecular [3+2] azomethine ylide–alkene cycloaddition and a reductive ring opening reaction.