Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.139, No.49, 17755-17758, 2017
Total Synthesis of (-)-Himalensine A
The first enantioselective synthesis of (-)-himalensine A has been achieved in 22 steps. The synthesis was enabled by a novel catalytic, enantioselective prototropic shift/furan Diels-Alder (IMDAF) cascade to construct the ACD tricyclic core. A reductive radical cyclization cascade was utilized to build the B ring, and end-game manipulations featuring a molecular oxygen mediated gamma-CH oxidation, a Stetter cyclization to access the pendant cyclopentenone, and a highly chemoselective lactam reduction delivered the natural product target.