Progress toward synthesis of diazonamide A. Preparation of a 3-(oxazol-5-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl-sulfonyloxyindole and its use in biaryl coupling reactions.

[formula: see text] The synthesis of a 3-oxazol-5-yl-indole-4-triflate is described, featuring a Schölkopf reaction to prepare the oxazole. In addition, the participation of this intermediate in biaryl coupling reactions toward the total synthesis of the natural product diazonamide A is presented.