Total Synthesis of Tambromycin Enabled by Indole C–H Functionalization

The total synthesis of tambromycin (1), a recently isolated tetrapeptide, is reported. This unusual natural product possesses a highly modified tryptophan-derived indole fragment fused to an α-methylserine-derived oxazoline ring, and a unique noncanonical amino acid residue named tambroline (11). A convergent synthesis of tambromycin was achieved by a 13-step route that leveraged recent developments in the field of C–H functionalization to prepare the complex indole fragment, as well as an efficient synthesis of tambroline that featured a diastereoselective amination of homoproline.