Abstract

N-Methylwelwitindolinone C isothiocyanate (welwistatin), isolated from the blue-green alga Hapalosiphon welwitschii, is a potent MDR inhibitor. This review deals with synthetic efforts aimed at welwistatin itself or its fragments, together with work concerning the bicyclo[4.3.1]decane and cyclohepta[cd]indole systems, which are related to the CD and ABC fragments of the natural product.

Keywords: bicyclo decanes, rhodium carbenoids, aryllead triacetates, ring-closing metathesis, multi-drug resistance