Total Synthesis of (±)‐Alstoscholarisine A

The first total synthesis of the neuroactive indole alkaloid (±)‐alstoscholarisine A is reported. The key step of the concise synthesis is an efficient domino sequence that was used to assemble the 2,8‐diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane core through the formation of two C?N bonds and one C?C bond in a single step.     

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 Cascade Strategy Enables a Total Synthesis of (±)‐Morphine

Morphine has been a target for synthetic chemists since Robinson proposed its correct structure in 1925, resulting in a large number of total syntheses of morphine alkaloids. Here we report a total synthesis of (±)‐morphine that employs two key strategic cyclizations: 1) a diastereoselective light‐mediated cyclization of an O‐arylated butyrolactone to form a tricyclic cis‐fused benzofuran and 2) a cascade ene–yne–ene ring closing metathesis to forge the tetracyclic morphine core. This approach enables a short and stereoselective synthesis of morphine in an overall yield of 6.6 %.     

Formal Synthesis of (±)‐Isodihydronepetalactone

A formal synthesis of (±)‐isodihydronepetalactone ( 1 ) from cyclobutenone 5 was de scribed. Baeyer‐Villiger lactonization of cyclobutanone 8 followed by decholorination led to lactone 4 , which under went a series of functional group trans formations, furnished cyclopentanone derivative 15 . Shapiro reaction on hydrazone derivative in the presence of excess dry ice gave lactone 2 . Lactone 2 had previously been converted to isodihydronepetalactone ( 1 ).     

Total Synthesis of (±)‐Strictamine

The total synthesis of strictamine has been achieved in nine steps from a known enol triflate. Characteristic features of our approach included: a) creation of a C7 all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter at an early synthetic stage; b) use of an N,N‐dimethyl tertiary amine as a surrogate of the primary amine for the rapid build‐up of a functionalized 2‐azabicyclo[3,3,1]nonan‐9‐one skeleton (achieved by using a reaction sequence of α‐bromination of the ketone, followed by a stereoconvergent intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction); and c) a late‐stage construction of the indolenine unit.     

Formal Synthesis of (−)‐Cephalotaxine

A formal synthesis of (?)‐cephalotaxine ( 1 ) by means of a highly stereoselective radical carboazidation process is reported. The synthesis begins with the protected (S)‐cyclopent‐2‐en‐1‐ol derivative 10 and uses the concept of self‐reproduction of a stereogenic center (Schemes 5 and 6). For this purpose, the double bond adjacent to the initial chiral center in 10 is converted into an acetonide after stereoselective dihydroxylation. The initial alcohol function is used to build an exocyclic methylene group suitable for the carboazidation process 8 → 7 (Scheme 7). Finally the protected diol moiety is converted back to an alkene ( 14 → 15 → 6 ) and used for the formation of ring B via a Heck reaction ( 6 →(?)‐ 16 ; Scheme 8).     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Morphine

We have developed an efficient total synthesis of (?)‐morphine in 5 % overall yield with the longest linear sequence consisting of 17 steps from 2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one. The cyclohexenol unit was prepared by means of an enzymatic resolution and a Suzuki–Miyaura coupling as key steps. Construction of the morphinan core features an intramolecular aldol reaction and an intramolecular 1,6‐addition. Furthermore, mild deprotection conditions to remove the 2,4‐dinitrobenzenesulfonyl (DNs) group enabled the facile construction of the morphinan skeleton. We have also established an efficient synthetic route to a cyclohexenol unit containing an N‐methyl‐DNs‐amide moiety.     

Collective Total Syntheses of Atisane‐Type Diterpenes and Atisine‐Type Diterpenoid Alkaloids: (±)‐Spiramilactone B, (±)‐Spiraminol, (±)‐Dihydroajaconine,and (±)‐Spiramines C and D

The first total syntheses of the architecturally complex atisane‐type diterpenes and biogenetically related atisine‐type diterpenoid alkaloids (±)‐spiramilactone B, (±)‐spiraminol, (±)‐dihydroajaconine, and (±)‐spiramines C and D are reported. Highlights of the synthesis include a late‐stage biomimetic transformation of spiramilactone B, a facile formal lactone migration from the pentacyclic skeleton of spiramilactone E, a highly efficient and diastereoselective 1,7‐enyne cycloisomerization to construct the functionalized tetracyclic atisane skeleton, and a tandem retro‐Diels–Alder/intramolecular Diels–Alder sequence to achieve the tricyclo[6.2.2.0] ring system.     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)‐Diversonol

For the synthesis of (?)‐diversonol (ent‐ 1 ), an enantioselective domino‐Wacker/carbonylation/methoxylation reaction and an enantioselective Wacker oxidation were used to give the chroman in high yield and 96 % and 93 % ee, respectively. Dihydroxylation at the vinyl moiety using the Sharpless procedure and a Wittig–Horner reaction followed by hydrogenation, benzylic oxidation, and an intramolecular acylation provided the tetrahydroxanthenone, from which ent‐ 1 is accessible in a few steps. Furthermore, the synthesis of the diastereomeric diversonol rac‐1,9 a‐epi‐diversonol (rac‐ 41 ) is also described.     

A Convergent Formal Synthesis of (±)‐Pumiliotoxin C

A short approach to a key precursor in the synthesis of (±)‐pumiliotoxin C was achieved from [(6–9‐?)‐ethyl cis‐6,8‐nonadienoate]tricarbonyliron complex in five steps.     

Total Synthesis of (±)‐Aspidophylline A

A total synthesis of aspidophylline A, a pentacyclic akuammiline‐type monoterpene indole alkaloid, is described. The synthesis features: 1) rapid access to a fully functionalized dihydrocarbazole through the desymmetrization of readily available 2‐allyl‐2‐(o‐nitrophenyl)cyclohexane‐1,3‐dione; 2) an intramolecular azidoalkoxylation of an enecarbamate to install both the furoindoline ring and the azido functionality; and 3) an intramolecular Michael addition for the construction of the 2‐azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ring system.