Cyclization, reductive skeleton

Our first approach to 1 is based on a retrosynthetic analysis depicted in Fig (8). The crucial step to construct the cw-fused bicyclic ring skeleton of 1 is the intramolecular allylic amination of a cw-allylic carbonate 25. The paUadium-catalyzed allylation takes place with retention of the configuration [76] and requires the c/s-isomer 25 for the ring closure. Compound 25 may be derived from keto acid 24 through a sequence of reactions including esterification, O-methoxycarbonylation, removal of the Boc and benzylidene groups, dehydrative cyclization, reductive alkylation and ureido formation. The last five transformations are to be conducted in a successive manner, i.e., without isolation of the intermediates. The 4-carboxybutyl chain of 1 may be installed by the reaction of O-trimethylsilyl (TMS) cyanohydrin 23 with a di-Grignard... 

Thus the critical synthetic 1,6-dihydropyridine precursor for the unique isoquinuclidine system of the iboga alkaloids, was generated by reduction of a pyridinium salt with sodium borohydride in base (137-140). Lithium aluminum hydride reduction of phenylisoquinolinium and indole-3-ethylisoquinolinium salts gave enamines, which could be cyclized to the skeletons found in norcoralydine (141) and the yohimbane-type alkaloids (142,143). 

Scheme 1). Introduction of a jt bond into the molecular structure of 1 furnishes homoallylic amine 2 and satisfies the structural prerequisite for an aza-Prins transform.4 Thus, disconnection of the bond between C-2 and C-3 affords intermediate 3 as a viable precursor. In the forward sense, a cation ji-type cyclization, or aza-Prins reaction, could achieve the formation of the C2-C3 bond and complete the assembly of the complex pentacyclic skeleton of the target molecule (1). Reduction of the residual n bond in 2, hydro-genolysis of the benzyl ether, and adjustment of the oxidation state at the side-chain terminus would then complete the synthesis of 1. 

The reductive coupling of of dienes containing amine groups in the backbones allows for the production of alkaloid skeletons in relatively few steps [36,46,47]. Epilupinine 80 was formed in 51% yield after oxidation by treatment of the tertiary amine 81 with PhMeSiEh in the presence of catalytic 70 [46]. Notably, none of the trans isomer was observed in the product mixture (Eq. 11). The Cp fuMcTIIF was found to catalyze cyclization of unsubstituted allyl amine 82 to provide 83. This reaction proceeded in shorter time and with increased yield relative to the same reaction with 70 (Eq. 12) [47]. Substitution of either alkene prevented cyclization, possibly due to competitive intramolecular stabilization of the metal by nitrogen preventing coordination of the substituted olefin, and resulted in hydrosilylation of the less substituted olefin. 

Malacria and co-workers76 were the first to report the transition metal-catalyzed intramolecular cycloisomerization of allenynes in 1996. The cobalt-mediated process was presumed to proceed via a 7r-allyl intermediate (111, Scheme 22) following C-H activation. Alkyne insertion and reductive elimination give cross-conjugated triene 112 cobalt-catalyzed olefin isomerization of the Alder-ene product is presumed to be the mechanism by which 113 is formed. While exploring the cobalt(i)-catalyzed synthesis of steroidal skeletons, Malacria and co-workers77 observed the formation of Alder-ene product 115 from cis-114 (Equation (74)) in contrast, trans-114 underwent [2 + 2 + 2]-cyclization under identical conditions to form 116 (Equation (75)). 

The sesquiterpene skeleton has also been assembled by the intramolecular nitrile oxide cycloaddition sequence. Oxime 238 (obtained from epoxy silyl ether 237), on treatment with sodium hypochlorite gave isoxazoline 239, which was sequentially hydrolyzed and then subjected to the reductive hydrolysis conditions-cyclization sequence to give the furan derivative 240 (330) (Scheme 6.93). In three additional steps, compound 240 was converted to 241. This structure contains the C11-C21 segment of the furanoterpene ent-242, that could be obtained after several more steps (330). 

A subsequent route by Joule and his collaborators846 made use of the primary alcohol (118) corresponding to (116). This was manipulated as shown, and cyclized to the quinone (119) before completion of the carbon skeleton, the cyclization stage being accompanied by spontaneous aerial oxidation of the initially formed hydroquinone derivative. Finally, the methyl groups were introduced by reaction with methyl-lithium, and the synthesis was completed by reduction (with NaBH4). 

The synthesis of the tetracyclic intermediate 49 was therefore studied in the hope that it might further cyclize to the desired lycorine skeleton. Birch reduction of o,p-dimethoxyphenethylamine led to the amine 50 which was converted into 51, giving rise in turn upon hydrolysis to 49. Its structure rests on physical data. Ordinary methods for nitro group reduction seemed to also destroy the 289-nm chromophore, but hydrogen transfer (a-phellandrene and Pd/C) gave a product which analyzed for the product of nitro reduction to amine in 49, the mass spectrometric data also being in agreement. The product was, however, not affected by diazotization, and, on the basis of spectral data, was... 

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