Isoquinoline alkaloids, synthesis

SCHEME 5.12. Synthesis of key inicrmediaics for phlliiilidc isoquinoline alkaloid synthesis, S2.46.67. ... 

The method has also proved to be applicable to isoquinoline alkaloid synthesis as illustrated by the example of die two enantiomers of tetrahy opapaverine (75) shown below. It is instructive to compare this fourth-generation approach with the second-generation method using chiral formamidines (section 5.3.4). 

Carbonylation of halides in the presence of primary and secondary amines at I atm affords amides[351j. The intramolecular carbonylation of an aryl bromide which has amino group affords a lactam and has been used for the synthesis of the isoquinoline alkaloid 498(352], The naturally occurring seven-membered lactam 499 (tomaymycin, neothramycin) is prepared by this method(353]. The a-methylene-d-lactam 500 is formed by the intramolecular carbonylation of 2-bromo-3-alkylamino-l-propene(354]. 

Isoquinoline Alkaloids" Academic Press New York, 1972 (e) Kametani, T. In "The Total Synthesis of Natural Products" ApSimon, J., Ed. Wiley-... 

The high enantioselectivity of the exo product opens up a new and readily accessible route to an enantioselective synthesis of interesting isoquinoline alkaloids (Scheme 6.15) [35]. The tricyclic isoxazolidine exo-15b was obtained from the 1,3-dipolar cydoaddition reaction as the pure exo isomer and with 58% ee [34]. As shown in Scheme 6.15 the exo product from the 1,3-dipolar cydoaddition was converted into 17 in two steps without racemization at the chiral center. In addition to the illustrated synthesis, the 6,7-dimethoxy-derived isoxazolidine exo-15b is a very useful precursor for the synthesis of naturally occurring isoquinoline alkaloids [36-40]. 

The reaction is essentially that described by the submitters.8 The procedure illustrates a convenient method for the synthesis of a type of lactone which could serve as an important intermediate in the synthesis of isoquinolones, tetrahydroisoquinolines, and isoquinoline alkaloids Several analogous and closely related lactones have been reported. 

The intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of 78 was investigated during the synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids [65ij. No reaction occurred when solid-phase conditions were used (Florosil in DCM and CaCli) or when a variety of Lewis acids were employed (SnCU, BF3, RAICI2, Ti(z — Pr)4-TiCl4). A 56 % yield of 79 was obtained by carrying out the cycloaddition in toluene in a sealed tube at 200 °C. jS-CD catalysis in water under milder conditions (Equation 4.11) improved the conversion to 84 %. 

Intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of substituted fiirans has been investigated as a route to the synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids. Tetrahydroisoquinoline 81 was prepared from furan 80 in 40% yield <95JCS(P1)2393>. 

The isoquinoline alkaloids (1-4) along with the indole alkaloids are the most abundant groups of alkaloids. Their chemistry and synthesis have been extensively studied. In recent years one of the most interesting features of the chemistry of these alkaloids is the transformation among the different types. 

The protoberberine alkaloids (5-75) play important roles as precursors in the biosynthesis of a variety of related isoquinoline alkaloids such as protopine, phthalideisoquinoline, spirobenzylisoquinoline, rhoeadine, inde-nobenzazepine, secoberbine, and benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids. Chemical transformations of protoberberines to these alkaloids are particularly interesting and exciting from the biogenetic viewpoint and further from ready availability of starting protoberberines in nature or synthesis. 

The photocyclization of enamides to quinolines or isoquinolines has become an important reaction in the synthesis of alkaloids 219,358). It has recently been applied in the preparation of the isoquinoline alkaloid polycarpine 359). The principle of the reaction is demonstrated in the preparation of dihydroquinolines 360> (3.39) and of spirocyclohexaneisoquinoline derivatives (3.40) 361K In each case the electrocyclic ring closure product undergoes a subsequent 1,5-hydrogen shift. 

Isoquinoline alkaloids. The regioselective allylation of N-acyl heterocycles (13, 10) can be used for synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids. Thus simultaneous reaction of the dihydroisoquinoline (1) with a diunsaturated acyl chloride (2) and allyltributyltin affords the 1,2-adduct (3), which undergoes a Diels-Alder cyclization... 

Somewhat more effective catalysts are obtained by replacing BINAP with TolBINAP, which is 2,2 -bis(di-p-tolylphosphino)-l,l -binaphthyl.4 The presently preferred catalysts are complexes of Ru(OCOCF3)2 with (R)- or (S)-TolBINAP, obtained by treatment of Ru(OAc)2TolBINAP with 2 equiv. of trifluoroacetic acid. Such catalysts promote hydrogenation of typical enamides in 98% ee and 98% yield. This reaction can be used to provide asymmetric synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids as well as of morphinans used as substitutes for morphine. 

B. Reaction of Reissert Compounds Synthesis of Isoquinoline Alkaloids... 

The chemistry of Reissert compounds has been the subject of numerous general reviews (3-10). In 1973 Popp gave a summary on the use of Reissert compounds in the synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids and related compounds (7). We now wish to summarize new results that have appeared from 1973 to the end of 1985 for the application of Reissert compounds in the synthesis of isoquinoline as well as indole alkaloids. 

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