Synthesis of (+/-)-strychnofoline via a highly convergent selective annulation reaction

Studies aimed at preparing (+/-)-strychnofoline by total synthesis are detailed. The route described makes use of a recently developed MgI(2)-mediated ring-expansion reaction of spiro[cyclopropan-1,3'-oxindole] with a cyclic disubstituted aldimine. The ring-expansion product was formed as a single diastereoisomer in 55 % yield, possessing the same stereochemical pattern found in strychnofoline. In addition, our synthetic effort has led to the development of new reaction methodology to access 3,4-disubstituted cyclic aldimines.