An enantioselective total synthesis of plagiochianin B is described that employs (+)-3-carene as its point of departure and delivers the enantiomer of the natural product. Key features of the synthesis include a palladium-mediated regioselective oxidative cleavage of an olefin residing on a pyridine derived from a 6πazatriene electrocyclization.

Herein, an efficient, scalable, and concise approach to an advanced pyrroloiminoquinone synthetic intermediate (6b) by way of a Larock indole synthesis is reported. The synthetic utility of this intermediate is demonstrated by its ready conversion to makaluvamines A (1) and K (4).