Deoxyvasicinone has been used as the key intermediate to prepare the alkalo
ids isaindigotone and luotonin A. This intermediate is directly converted i
nto isaindigotone by condensation with 4-acetoxy-3, 5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde
; alternatively oxidation with SeO2 afforded the pyrrolo[2,1-b] quinazoline
-3,9-dione, a putative precursor of the luotonin A.