A concise synthesis of two new indoloquinoline-based alkaloids (1 and
2), isolated from Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, is reported. The palladiu
m-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of 3-bromoquinoline derivatives wi
th N-pivaloylamino phenylboronic acid gave the corresponding biaryls f
rom which the indoloquinolines could be synthesized.