Asymmetric Syntheses of the Macrocyclic Spermine Alkaloids (−)‐(S)‐Protoverbine, (−)‐(S)‐Buchnerine,and Their Naturally Occurring Congenial Alkaloids

Asymmetric syntheses of the following 17‐membered macrocyclic spermine alkaloids are presented: (−)‐(S)‐protoverbine (=(8S)‐8‐phenyl‐1,5,9,13‐tetraazacycloheptadecane‐6‐one; 1 ), (+)‐(S)‐protomethine (=(2S)‐2‐phenyl‐1,5,9,14‐tetraazabicyclo12.3.1]octadecan‐4‐one; 2 ), (−)‐(S)‐buchnerine (=(8S)‐8‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐1,5,9,13‐tetraazacycloheptadecane‐6‐one; 8 ), (+)‐(S)‐verbamethine (=(+)‐(2S)‐9‐(E)‐phenylprop‐2‐enoyl]‐2‐phenyl‐1,5,9,14‐tetraazabicyclo12.3.1]octadecan‐4‐one; 4 ), (−)‐(S)‐verbacine (=(−)‐(8S)‐1‐(E)‐phenylprop‐2‐enoyl]‐8‐phenyl‐1,5,9,13‐tetraazacycloheptadecan‐6‐one; 3 ), (−)‐(S)‐verbasikrine (=(−)‐(8S)‐1‐(E)‐3‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enoyl]‐8‐phenyl‐1,5,9,13‐tetraazacycloheptadecan‐6‐one; 26 ), (−)‐(S)‐isoverbasikrine (=(−)‐(8S)‐1‐(Z)‐3‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enoyl]‐8‐phenyl‐1,5,9,13‐tetraazacycloheptadecan‐6‐one; 25 ), (+)‐(S)‐verbamekrine (=(+)‐(2S)‐9‐(E)‐3‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enoyl]‐2‐phenyl‐1,5,9,14‐tetraazabicyclo12.3.1]octadecan‐4‐one; 23 ), and (+)‐(S)‐isoverbamekrine (=(+)‐(2S)‐9‐(Z)‐3‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enoyl]‐2‐phenyl‐1,5,9,14‐tetraazabicyclo12.3.1]octadecan‐4‐one; 24 ). Effective methods for ¹H‐NMR determination of the enantiomeric purity in which (S)‐2‐hydroxy‐2‐phenylacetic acid and (S)‐2‐acetoxy‐2‐phenylacetic acid are used as shift reagents for 1, 8 , and related macrocyclic alkaloids are described.