TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF STRYCHNOS AND ASPIDOSPERMATAN ALKALOIDS

Abstract

The Strychnos class of indole alkaloids contain a pyrrolo[2,3-d]carbazole ABCE tetracyclic framework. The second-generation ABCE tetracycle approach was employed in the total synthesis of (±)-20-epi-lochneridine and progress toward total synthesis of (±)-alstolucine B. The second-generation approach featured Mitsunobu activation of the hydroxyethyl group in a gramine intermediate followed by intramolecular aza-Baylis-Hillman reaction. The substrate for hydroboration was redesigned to (±)-18-desmethyl akuammicine (1,1-disubstituted double bond), since the hydroboration of trisubstituted alkenes afforded tertiary alcohol via Markovnikov addition. The key steps were n-Bu3SnH mediated cyclization reaction to accomplish D-ring, tert-butyl hypochlorite indoline oxidation, and anti-Markovnikov hydroboration to introduce a primary alcohol. The total syntheses of Strychnos-Strychnos type bis-indole alkaloids (−)-leucoridine A and C were accomplished from the biomimetic dimerization of (−)-dihydrovalparicine. En route to (−)-dihydrovialparicine, known alkaloids (+)-geissoschizoline and (−)-dehydrogeissoschizoline were also prepared from commercially available N-tosyl indole 3-carboxaldehyde. Key steps consisted of an in situ dimerization of (−)-dihydrovalparicine from (−)-1, 2-dehydrogeissoschizoline with trifluoroacetic acid in the presence of 4 Å molecular sieves. Acid mediated ring-opening of the indolenine in (−)-leucoridine A to afford (−)-leucoridine C. DFT calculations were employed to elucidate the mechanism of dimerization, which suggested that a stepwise aza-Michael/spirocyclization sequence was preferred over the alternate hetero Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction. A novel domino Michael/Mannich [4+2] annulation method was applied for concise total synthesis of Aspidospermatan alkaloids (+)-20-epi-condyfoline and progress toward the total synthesis of (+)-condyfoline. The additional key steps consisted of a LiHMDS mediated cyclization to form D-ring, dimethyl(methylthio)sulfonium tetrafluoroborate (DMTSF) mediated spirocyclization to form pentacyclic thioether and indoline oxidation with MnO2.