Indole alkaloid total synthesis

In an alternative approach to annulation across the indole 2,3-tt system, Padwa and coworkers have reported approaches to the pentacyclic and hexacyclic frameworks of the aspidosperma and kopsifoline alkaloids respectively that involve as the key step a Rh(II)-promoted cyclization-cycloaddition cascade 06OL3275, 06OL5141 . As illustrated in their approach to ( )-aspidophytine 150, Rh2(OAc)4-catalyzed cyclization of a diazo ketoester 148 affords a carbonyl ylide dipole that undergoes [3+2]-cycloaddition across the indole 2,3-tt bond to generate 149 06OL3275 . 

On route to the Erythrina alkaloid 3-dimethoxyerythratidinone, Wang and Padwa encountered the interesting acid catalyzed rearrangement of lactam 151 to the tetracyclic hydroxyindole 153 via the lactone 152 060L601 . 

The Bennasar group has reported a regioselective 6-endo reductive cyclization of 2-indolylacyl radicals, generated from 154, to afford entry into the tetracyclic ring system 155 found within guatambuine 156 06JOC1746,06OL561 . 

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One of the latest additions to the impressive repertoire of indole alkaloid total syntheses using intramolecular Heck strategy is the total synthesis of hippadine (18a) [109]. As depicted in Scheme 43, an intramolecular aryl-Heck cyclization of substrate 241 under normal Heck conditions gave Ihe cyclized product 242, which was transformed into hippadine (18a) upon further manipulations. 

One additional example of forming a quarternary stereocenter in alkaloid total synthesis by using a catalytic asymmetric Heck reaction was reported in 2005 by Overman et al. The complex indole alkaloid minfiensine 33 exhibits impressive biological activities (Scheme 13.9). It was... 

Snyder has conducted similar chemistry but with the goal of generating carbon skeletons for the total synthesis of alkaloids. Using indole 84 as a dienophile, the canthine alkaloid skeleton 85 was produced. Access to aspidosperma alkaloids was obtained when 86 was transformed into 87. 

The preferred formation of 261 over 260 is in accord with the well-known positional order 3 > 2 for reactivity of unsubstituted indole. Aiming at total synthesis of leptosin alkaloids, an application of this methodology to the 1-hydroxy-L-tryptophan derivatives seems to be promising. 

Batcho indole synthesis is a useful tool for synthesis of naniral products. As oudined in Scheme 10.6, the Batcho indole synthesis is used for total synthesis of the slime mold alkaloid arcyriacyanin. Such indolocarbazole alkaloids represent a growing number of naniral products isolated from soil organism, slime molds, and marine sources. They are important as andnimor compounds and protein kinase C and topoisomerase inhibitors. 

A concise total synthesis of the indole alkaloid dihydrocorynantheol (101) (Scheme 19), that features two RCM steps and a zirconocene-catalyzed carbo-magnesation [68], is a further example of Martin s interest in applying RCM as a key reaction for the construction of alkaloid frameworks [69]. The first RCM step was applied to bis-allyl amide 96. The resulting intermediate 97 was directly subjected to carbomagnesation and subsequent elimination to deliver 98 in 71% yield from 96. Amide 98 was then transformed into acrylamide 99 in... 

Having an efficient total synthesis of the indole alkaloid vindoline in mind, the Boger group [47] developed a facile entry to its core structure using a domino [4+2]/[3+2] cycloaddition. Reaction of the 1,3,4-oxadiazoles 4-139 led to 4-140 in high yield and excellent stereoselectivity via the intermediates 4-141 and 4-142 (Scheme 4.29). 

A series of papers have been published by Lounasmaa et al. (122-128) on the synthesis of different alkaloid-like indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidine derivatives by means of reduction and subsequent cyclization of A-[2-(indol-3-yl)ethyl]piridi-nium salts, developed as a general method for indole alkaloid synthesis by Wenkert and co-workers (129, 130). Aimed at the total synthesis of vallesiachotamine (9), valuable model studies were reported (131-133). Reduction of pyridinium salts 183 and 184 with sodium dithionite and subsequent acid-induced cyclization represents a convenient method for preparing val-lesiachotamine-type derivatives 185 and 186, respectively. 

The Nagata group also developed a new approach to the construction of bridged aziridines via nitrene intermediates that led to the total synthesis of the indole alkaloids, ibogamine, velbanamine, and coronaridine (1968-1971). 

Blechert et al. have proposed a new effective approach to the synthesis of different indole alkaloids using cation domino reactions (95S592, 97AGE1474). The total yield of uleine (7a), produced on the basis of this concept, is 32%, which is quite unique in the synthesis of polycyclic indole alkaloids. Note that this is the total yield, starting from cyclohexenone 46 the yield of the key step of the synthesis - the cyclization of carbazole 47 into 7a is 95% (Scheme 12). 

A concise total synthesis of the indole alkaloid dihydrocorynantheol 148 (Scheme 27) that features two RCM steps and a zirconocene-catalyzed carbomagnesation is a further example of Martin s interest in applying RCM as a key... 

ABSTRACT The acid-catalysed epimerization reaction of bioactive indole alkaloids and their derivatives is reviewed. The three mechanisms, which have been proposed for the (J-carboline-type indole alkaloids, are discussed. Through recent developments, evidence for all three mechanisms has been obtained, which shows the complexity of the epimerization reaction. The epimerization seems to depend on structural features and reaction conditions making it difficult to define one universal mechanism. On the other hand, the isomerization mechanism of oxindole alkaloids has been widely accepted. The acid-catalysed epimerization reaction provides a powerful tool in selectively manipulating the stereochemistry at the epimeric centre and it can also have a marked effect on the pharmacology of any epimerizable compound. Therefore, examples of this reaction in die total synthesis of indole alkaloids are given and pharmacological activities of some C-3 epimeric diastereomers are compared. Finally, literature examples of acid-catalysed epimerization reactions are presented. 

Kozikowski s group has been particularly active in the application of the INOC reaction toward the construction of a variety of natural products. One of the many examples from his laboratory involves the synthesis of tetracyclic compounds possessing suitably functionalized C rings for elaboration to a diverse number of ergot alkaloids via the INOC reaction. A total synthesis of chanoclavine I (65) was accomplished by this chemistry (Scheme 15). The key step in the synthesis involved the conversion of the nitro group of indole (62) into the corresponding nitrile oxide using the phenyl isocyanate procedure developed by Mukaiyama.57 The major product corresponded to isoxazoline (64). The isoxazoline nucleus was converted into chanoclavine I (65) in a series of subsequent steps. The application of nitrile oxide cycloaddition chemistry to the construction of other natural products can be expected to be an active area in future years. 

Finally, although a practical total synthesis of a naturally occurring indole alkaloid using a tandem radical cyclization strategy has yet to be demonstrated this strategy has shown great potential as a powerful tool in indole synthesis. 

Chapter 4 by J.J. Li reviews radical cyclization reactions in the total synthesis of indole alkaloids. The use of free radical chemistry in the synthesis of alkaloids has grown markedly because of the mild reaction conditions, tolerance of a wide variety of functional groups, and the good stereoselectivities. 

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