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DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1592042
Synthesis of (–)-Longeracinphyllin A
Publication History
Publication Date:
15 December 2017 (online)
Key words
daphniphyllum alkaloids - 6-exo-dig cyclization - intramolecular conjugate addition - asymmetric hydrogenation - [3+2] cycloadditionSignificance
Alkaloid natural products isolated from leaves and roots of the Daphniphyllum genus of plants are widely used in Chinese herbal medicine. The first and asymmetric total synthesis of (–)-longeracinphyllin A, a member of this structurally complex family of natural products, was accomplished by Li and co-workers. The significance of the approach chosen by the authors lies in the rapid construction of intermediate D and assembly of structurally advanced tetracycle F in large quantities. This enables elegant completion of the highly challenging target by [3+2] cycloaddition in just 21 synthetic steps.
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Comment
Borrowing from their previously established route for a related natural product (Nat. Chem. 2013, 5, 679), the authors gained expedient entry to the core of the target from abundant precursor C by silver-catalyzed 6-exo-dig cyclization, intramolecular conjugate addition, and asymmetric olefin hydrogenation. Acquisition of enone G proved crucial as this electron-deficient substrate was found to undergo diphosphine-promoted [3+2] cycloaddition with allenoate H, while other olefins would not react. The pentacyclic lactam I was carried on forward to render (–)-longeracinphyllin A.
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