Total Syntheses of (±)‐Fawcettimine, (±)‐Fawcettidine, (±)‐Lycoflexine,and (±)‐Lycoposerramine‐Q

The total syntheses of four fawcettimine‐related Lycopodium alkaloids, (±)‐fawcettimine, (±)‐fawcettidine, (±)‐lycoposerramine‐Q, and (±)‐lycoflexine, were completed in a highly stereoselective manner. The Pauson–Khand reaction of 4‐methylidene‐6‐siloxyoct‐1‐en‐7‐yne followed by regio‐ and stereoselective hydrogenation led to the short‐step preparation of the bicyclo[4.3.0]nonenone intermediate bearing a methyl group with the required stereochemistry. The subsequent chemical manipulation of the bicyclic compound afforded the 6‐5‐9‐membered tricyclic dioxo compound, which was then transformed into the four targeted alkaloids in an alternative and more efficient fashion.     

A Bioinspired Synthesis of (±)‐Rubrobramide, (±)‐Flavipucine,and (±)‐Isoflavipucine

A biomimetic synthesis of naturally occurring lactams rubrobramide, flavipucine, and isoflavipucine is described. The key step is a regioselective Darzens reaction between isobutyl glyoxal and an α‐bromo‐β‐ketoamide. The construction of the core tricyclic ring system of rubrobramide was achieved by a cascade reaction in a single step from an α,β‐epoxy‐γ‐lactam. Furthermore, the absolute configuration of naturally occurring (+)‐rubrobramide was determined by vibrational circular dichroism. (±)‐Flavipucine and (±)‐isoflavipucine were synthesized from an epoxyimide, which was prepared by reaction of isobutyl glyoxal with a protected α‐bromo‐β‐ketoamide. Deprotection of the epoxyimide and formation of the pyridone ring gave (±)‐flavipucine, which was converted into (±)‐isoflavipucine by thermal isomerization.     

A Bioinspired Synthesis of (±)‐Rubrobramide, (±)‐Flavipucine,and (±)‐Isoflavipucine

A biomimetic synthesis of naturally occurring lactams rubrobramide, flavipucine, and isoflavipucine is described. The key step is a regioselective Darzens reaction between isobutyl glyoxal and an α‐bromo‐β‐ketoamide. The construction of the core tricyclic ring system of rubrobramide was achieved by a cascade reaction in a single step from an α,β‐epoxy‐γ‐lactam. Furthermore, the absolute configuration of naturally occurring (+)‐rubrobramide was determined by vibrational circular dichroism. (±)‐Flavipucine and (±)‐isoflavipucine were synthesized from an epoxyimide, which was prepared by reaction of isobutyl glyoxal with a protected α‐bromo‐β‐ketoamide. Deprotection of the epoxyimide and formation of the pyridone ring gave (±)‐flavipucine, which was converted into (±)‐isoflavipucine by thermal isomerization.