Efforts toward the total synthesis of indolactam V via CuI-mediated inter- and intra-molecular N-arylation of 4-iodotryptophan derivatives for the introduction of 4-valine moiety from natural L-valine are described. Meanwhile, the efficient synthesis of several pyrroloquinoline derivatives by taking advantage of the CuI-catalyzed intramolecular N-arylation reaction of 4-iodotryptophan is disclosed.
