Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.138, No.35, 11148-11151, 2016
Enantioselective Synthesis of (+)-Peganumine A
A gram-scale enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-peganumine A was accomplished in 7 steps from commercially available 6-methoxytryptamine. Key steps included (a) a Liebeskind-Srogl cross-coupling; (b) a one-pot construction of the tetracyclic skeleton from an omega-isocyano-gamma-oxo-aldehyde via a sequence of an unprecedented C-C bond forming lactamization and a trans annular condensation; (c) a one-pot organocatalytic process merging two achiral building blocks into an octacyclic structure via a sequence of enantioselective Pictet-Spengler reaction followed by a transannular cyclization. This last reaction created two spirocycles and a 2,7-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-3-one unit with excellent control of both the absolute and relative stereochemistry of the two newly created quaternary stereocenters.