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Two total syntheses of the indolo[2,3-a]quinolizinium cation have been accomplished through the application of two ring-closing metathesis reactions to form the pyridinium ring. One of these approaches provides the tetracyclic cation in only five steps from commercially available harmane. Fluorescence-based thermal denaturation experiments, as well as spectrofluorimetric titration, circular dichroism measurements, and theoretical simulations, showed a consistent DNA-binding capacity by intercalation with a marked preference for AT-rich sequences.

A novel and efficient synthesis of the pyrido[3',2':4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine system, the heterocyclic core of the variolin family of marine alkaloids, is described. The route involves the reaction of 3-bromo-2-(bromomethyl)pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine and tosylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC) under phase-transfer conditions. This unprecedented reaction was also used to synthesize a series of new methoxycarbonyl azolopyrimidines by reaction of TosMIC with bromomethylindoles, bromomethylbenzimidazole, and bromomethylpyrazole. Hydrolysis and decarboxylation of 5-bromo-7-methoxycarbonylpyrido[3',2':4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine obtained by this heterocyclization process and installation of the pyrimidine moiety in the C5 position open an alternative approach to complete a total synthesis of variolin B.

A new reaction of N-protected 2-bromomethylazoles and tosylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC) leading to the preparation of azolopyrimidines is described. This domino sequence was used to synthesize the pyrido[3',2':4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine core of alkaloids variolins from 4-methoxy-2-methylpyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrimidine in two steps.