Synthesis 2014; 46(19): 2591-2594
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1378381
paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Synthesis of (+)-Harmicine

Pravat Mondal
Division of Organic Chemistry, National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR), Pune 411 008, India   Email: np.argade@ncl.res.in
,
Narshinha P. Argade*
Division of Organic Chemistry, National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR), Pune 411 008, India   Email: np.argade@ncl.res.in
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Received: 25 April 2014

Accepted after revision: 11 June 2014

Publication Date:
11 July 2014 (online)


Abstract

A facile convergent access to the important indole alkaloid (+)-harmicine is described, starting from tryptamine and (R)-acetoxysuccinic anhydride via the corresponding acetoxysuccinimide in very good overall yield. Regioselective reduction of an unsymmetrical imide carbonyl group and acid-catalyzed stereoselective intramolecular cyclization were the key features involved. The directing group to induce asymmetry was finally detached via the corresponding iodide by using tributyltin hydride chemistry.

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