Nakadomarin A

Nakadomarin A is a sea sponge alkaloid that contains an unusual partially saturated azocine (azacyclooctatetraene) ring. It is also the only member of the manzamine alkaloid family to contain a furan ring. Nakadomarin A shows anticancer, antifungal, and antibacterial activity, but because only tiny amounts exist in nature, an efficient lab synthesis is necessary. A key step of its synthesis was recently improved by A. H. Hoveyda, R. R. Schrock, and co-workers.