Total Synthesis of Aspidosperma and Strychnos Alkaloids through Indole Dearomatization

Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids are the major class of tryptamine-derived alkaloids found in nature. Together with their structural complexity, this has attracted great interest from synthetic organic chemists. In this Review, the syntheses of Aspidosperma and Strychnos alkaloids through dearomatization of indoles are discussed.     

Total Synthesis of Spirotryprostatins through Organomediated Intramolecular Umpolung Cyclization

Cyclodipeptide 2,5-diketopiperazines (DKP) are privileged structural units present in drugs and natural alkaloids. This work reports a new method for the synthesis of biologically important DKP scaffolds based on an intramolecular nucleophilic α-addition of general amides towards an alkynamide system. The utility of this umpolung cyclization mediated by trimethyl phosphine and l -glutamic acid is highlighted by its application to the concise total syntheses of 6-methoxyspirotryprostatin B (the first total synthesis), spirotryprostatin A, and spirotryprostatin B.     

Synthesis of Indoles through Highly Efficient Cascade Reactions of Sulfur Ylides and N-(ortho-Chloromethyl)aryl Amides

Batting the ylides: A simple procedure carried out under mild conditions allows the direct and efficient synthesis of structurally diverse indoles. This approach involves a cascade reaction of sulfur ylides and N-(ortho-chloromethyl)aryl amides.     

Enantioselective Cascade Michael Addition/Cyclization Reactions of 3‐Nitro‐2H‐Chromenes with 3‐Isothiocyanato Oxindoles: Efficient Synthesis of Functionalized Polycyclic Spirooxindoles

An unprecedented Zn(OTf)₂‐catalyzed asymmetric Michael addition/cyclization cascade of 3‐nitro‐2H‐chromenes with 3‐isothiocyanato oxindoles has been disclosed. This transformation provides an efficient access to various synthetically important polycyclic spirooxindoles in a highly stereoselective manner under mild conditions (72–99 % yields, up to >95:5 d.r. and >99 % ee). The reaction leads to the formation of three consecutive stereocenters, including 1,3‐nonadjacent tetrasubstituted carbon stereocenters, in a single operation. A bifunctional activation model of the chiral Zn(OTf)₂/bis(oxazoline) complex was proposed based on control experiments, wherein the Zn^II moiety serves as a Lewis acid and the N atom of the free NH group acts as a Lewis base by a hydrogen‐bonding interaction.     

Transition Metal Promoted Cascade Heterocycle Synthesis through C−H Functionalization

Sequential, domino and tandem reactions could be defined as a sequence of synthetic transformations that occur one after the other, in the same reaction flask. This Review highlights recent advances at the overlap of two worlds: transition-metal mediated C−H activation as a trigger of cascade reaction, for the heterocycles synthesis. To shed some light on this intricate “middle-earth”, focus was put on the reaction mechanism rather than the type of metal or the chronological order of the reaction. The aim is to separate, and then highlight, the true domino reactions initiated by C−H activation, compared to other examples of C−H functionalization for heterocycle syntheses.     

Self‐Relay Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Pictet–Spengler/Cyclization Cascade Reaction for the Rapid Elaboration of Pentacyclic Indole Derivatives

Gold‐catalyzed cascade reactions allow the rapid elaboration of pentacyclic indolo[2,3‐a]quinolizidines from N‐allyl tryptamines and ortho‐alkynylarylaldehydes. The tandem process combines a gold‐catalyzed Pictet‐Spengler reaction and a cyclization occurring concomitantly with an allyl transfer from the nitrogen atom to the stilbene function. Various substituted allyls were successfully transferred, furnishing the products in yields typically ranging from 60–98 % in high diastereoselectivity. Tryptamines bearing a butenol chain undergo an additional cyclization to chiral hemiaminals in high diastereoselectivities.     

Bioinspired Synthesis of (+)‐Cinchonidine Using Cascade Reactions

The development of efficient syntheses of complex natural products has long been a major challenge in synthetic chemistry. Designing cascade reactions and employing bioinspired transformations are an important and reliable means of achieving this goal. Presented here is a combination of these two strategies, which allow efficient asymmetric synthesis of the cinchona alkaloid (+)‐cinchonidine. The key steps of this synthesis are a controllable, visible‐light‐induced photoredox radical cascade reaction to efficiently access the tetracyclic monoterpenoid indole alkaloid core, as well as a practical biomimetic cascade rearrangement for the indole to quinoline transformation. The use of stereoselective chemical transformations in this work makes it an efficient synthesis of (+)‐cinchonidine.     

Total Synthesis of Dictyodendrins by the Gold-Catalyzed Cascade Cyclization of Conjugated Diynes with Pyrroles

In total and formal syntheses of dictyodendrins B, C, E, and F, the key step involved the direct construction of the pyrrolo[2,3-c]carbazole core by the gold-catalyzed annulation of a conjugated diyne with a pyrrole to form three bonds and two aromatic rings. The subsequent introduction of substituents at the C1 (Suzuki–Miyaura coupling), C2 (addition to an aldehyde), N3 (alkylation), and C5 positions (Ullman coupling) provided divergent access to dictyodendrins.     

A Cascade Strategy Enables a Total Synthesis of (−)‐Gephyrotoxin

A concise and efficient synthesis of (?)‐gephyrotoxin from L ‐pyroglutaminol has been realized. The key step in this approach is a diastereoselective intramolecular enamine/Michael cascade reaction that forms two rings and two stereocenters and generates a stable tricyclic iminium cation. A hydroxy‐directed reduction of this intermediate plays a key role in establishing the required cis‐decahydroquinoline ring system, enabling the total synthesis of (?)‐gephyrotoxin in nine steps and 14 % overall yield. The absolute configuration of the synthetic material was confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and is consistent with the structure originally proposed for material isolated from the natural source.     

Cascade Reactions: A Driving Force in Akuammiline Alkaloid Total Synthesis

The akuammiline alkaloids are a family of intricate natural products which have received considerable attention from scientists worldwide. Despite the fact that many members of this alkaloid class were discovered over 50 years ago, synthetic chemistry has been unable to address their architectures until recently. This minireview provides a brief overview of the rich history of the akuammiline alkaloids, including their isolation, structural features, biological activity, and proposed biosyntheses. Furthermore, several recently completed total syntheses are discussed in detail. These examples not only serve to highlight modern achievements in alkaloid total synthesis, but also demonstrate how the molecular scaffolds of the akuammilines have provided inspiration for the discovery and implementation of innovative cascade reactions for the rapid assembly of complex structures.     

Total Syntheses of (−)‐Minovincine and (−)‐Aspidofractinine through a Sequence of Cascade Reactions

We report 8‐step syntheses of (?)‐minovincine and (?)‐aspidofractinine using easily available and inexpensive reagents and catalyst. A key element of the strategy was the utilization of a sequence of cascade reactions to rapidly construct the penta‐ and hexacyclic frameworks. These cascade transformations included organocatalytic Michael‐aldol condensation, a multistep anionic Michael‐S_N2 cascade reaction, and Mannich reaction interrupted Fischer indolization. To streamline the synthetic routes, we also investigated the deliberate use of steric effect to secure various chemo‐ and regioselective transformations.     

Biomimetic construction of the tetracyclic ring system of ngouniensine

2-Cyanotetrahydropyridine 9, bearing an indole-2-acetate moiety, was envisaged as a model synthetic equivalent of the dihydropyridinium cations A, which have been proposed as common biogenetic intermediates to both ngouniensine and Strychnos indole alkaloids. Lewis acid-promoted cyclization of the O-silyl ketene acetal derived from 9 led to the ngouniensine-type derivative 11.     

Facile Synthesis of 2H-Benzo[h]Chromenes via an Arylamine-Catalyzed Mannich Cyclization Cascade Reaction

A simple arylamine-catalyzed Mannich-cyclization cascade reaction was developed for facile synthesis of substituted 2H-benzo[h]chromenes. The notable feature of the process included the efficient generation of ortho-quinone methides (o-QMs) catalyzed by a simple aniline. The mild reaction conditions allowed for a broad spectrum of 1- and 2-naphthols and trans-cinnamaldehydes to engage in the cascade sequence with high efficiency.     

Bio-inspired Total Synthesis of Twelve Securinega Alkaloids: Structural Reassignments of (+)-Virosine B and (−)-Episecurinol A

The so-called Securinega alkaloids constitute a class of tetracyclic biologically active specialised metabolites isolated principally from subtropical plants belonging to the Phyllanthaceae family. Following a strategy based on alternative hypotheses for their biosynthesis, an easy and time-efficient divergent synthesis enabled access to twelve of those alkaloids featuring (neo)(nor)securinane skeletons. Moreover, this work permitted to reassign the absolute configurations of (+)-virosine B and (−)-episecurinol A.     

Access to electron-rich arene-fused hexahydroquinolizinones through a gold-catalysis-initiated cascade process

Golden Cascade: With a tethered, electron-rich arene as the internal nucleophile, a gold-catalyzed amide cyclization to an alkyne initiates a cascade process that ends with a Ferrier rearrangement. Electron-rich arene-bearing hexahydroquinolizin-2-ones are formed in good yields and can be converted into indole alkaloids in only a few steps.     

Diastereo- and Enantioselective Mannich/Cyclization Cascade Reaction Access to Chiral Benzothiazolopyrimidine Derivatives

An efficient asymmetric Mannich/cyclization cascade strategy was established from 2-benzothiazolimines with N-acylpyrazoles to provide optical active benzothiazolopyrimidine derivatives using a copper-based complex. The mild cascade process constructed various structurally diverse products with broad scope of substrates together with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99 % ee) and diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1 d.r.).     

Total Synthesis of Leuconoxine,Melodinine E,and Mersicarpine through a Radical Translocation–Cyclization Cascade

The Aspidosperma alkaloids leuconoxine, melodinine E, and mersicarpine were synthesized. The approach features a key cascade radical reaction. A 1,5‐hydrogen atom transfer is followed by spontaneous 5‐exo‐trig cyclization to construct the central indoline architecture. Late‐stage differentiation of the radical cyclization product by chemoselective oxidation allows production of either the leuconoxine/melodinine E or mersicarpine structure.