Stereocontrolled synthesis of (-)-galanthamine

An enantioselective synthesis of (-)-galanthamine has been realized in 11 linear steps starting from isovanillin. A Mitsunobu aryl ether forming reaction was used to assemble the galanthamine backbone, which was stitched together using enyne ring-closing metathesis, Heck, and N-alkylation reactions affording the tetracyclic ring system. Control of relative and absolute stereochemistry was derived from an easily accessible enantiomerically enriched propargylic alcohol 13

Electrophilic C12 Building Blocks for Alkaloids: Formal Total Synthesis of (±)-Maritidine

Silyl-protected benzyl alcohol derivatives and the salt 1 are used to form ortho-substituted C-12 electrophilic organoiron building blocks which are converted into a spirocyclic cyclohexenone to complete a formal total synthesis of (+/-)-maritidine (5). The choice of TBDPS protection was shown to be better than TIPS and compatible with ipso nucleophile addition to form a quaternary center. The reaction sequence is the first example of a successful application in the synthesis of an arylcyclohexadienyliron complex with an ortho-carbon substituent in the position required for Amaryllidaceae alkaloids of this type

Endo-Selective Enyne Ring-Closing Metathesis Promoted by Stereogenic-at-Mo Monoalkoxide and Monoaryloxide Complexes. Efficient Synthesis of Cyclic Dienes Not Accessible throught Reactions with Ru Carbenes

Stereogenic-at-Mo monoalkoxide and monoaryloxide complexes promote enyne ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reactions, affording the corresponding endo products with high selectivity (typically >98:98% endo).National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (GM-59426)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (DBI-0619576