Isoquinoline-derived alkaloids synthesis

Dihydropyridines have also been starting points for stereospecific syntheses of hydro-phenanthridines and isoquinolines. Interest exists in these compounds because of the occurrence of this structural feature in alkaloids. For example, isoquinuclidine (263), derived from JV-alkoxycarbonyl-l,2-dihydropyridine, undergoes a Cope rearrangement to give the isoquinoline derivative (264) (80JA6157). Further chemical transformations of (264) provided a formal total synthesis of reserpine (Scheme 50). 

Makosza118 has also shown that Reissert compounds, A-benzoyl-1,2-dihydroisoquinaldenitrile (67), can be alkylated in the presence of NaOH and TEBA. Alkaline hydrolysis of alkylated 68 will give isoquinoline derivatives, which are starting materials for the synthesis of alkaloids. 

Similar methodology was used in the synthesis of 3-methyl derivatives of the alkaloids thalactamine, doryanine, and 6,7-dimethoxy-A-methyl-l(2//)-isoquinolone652. The S l reaction between 0rr/20-halogenobenzylamines and enolates derived from a series of ketones and aldehydes affords 1,2-dihydroisoquinolines, from which the isoquinoline derivatives can be obtained by dehydrogenation and the 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines by reduction653. The products of the S l reactions of (2-halo-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)acetic... 

The first total synthesis of ( + )-dauricine was reported by Kametani and Fukumoto in 1964 (18,19). Arndt-Eistert reaction of homoveratryl-amine with the acid chloride XIX afforded the amide XXII. Bischler-Napieralski cyclization of the above amide gave the dihydro isoquinoline derivative XXIV, the methiodide of which when reduced with zinc dust and ethanol-hydrochloric acid afforded + )-dauricine. The identity of the synthetic product with ( )-dauricine w as concluded through a comparison of its physical properties (spectra and chromatographic behavior) with those of an authentic sample of the alkaloid. Melting-point determination of a mixture of derivatives of the two specimens is not recorded. 

The synthesis of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids siculine, oxocrinine and peicrinine was reported using a key phenyliodine(III) bis(trifluoroacetate)-mediated intramolecular p-p diphenol coupling reaction of norbelladine derivatives followed by an intramolecular Michael addition <04T4901>. An alternative approach to isoquinoline derivatives was reported by Chang and coworkers. In this report the benzene nucleus is installed via an intramolecular electrophilic cyclization of 3,4-disubstituted lactams 87 to provide 3,4-dihydrobenzo[g]isoquinoline-l(27/)-one 88 and 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline-l(2/7)-one 89 derivatives in good yields <04TL10637>. 

Alkaline hydrolysis of the alkylated product gives isoquinoline derivatives which are starting materials for the synthesis of alkaloids. 

This stereoselective reaction proceeds through an exo transition state with a trans-oxazohydrindan bridge conformation. The stereocontrolled assembly of this compound in one step represents a direct route to functionalized isoquinoline derivatives, which may prove useful for alkaloid synthesis. 

The Bischler-Napieralski reaction involves the cyclization of phenethyl amides 1 in the presence of dehydrating agents such as P2O5 or POCI3 to afford 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline products 2. This reaction is one of the most commonly employed and versatile methods for the synthesis of the isoquinoline ring system, which is found in a large number of alkaloid natural products. The Bischler-Napieralski reaction is also frequently used for the conversion of N-acyl tryptamine derivatives 3 into p-carbolines 4 (eq 2). 

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 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. 

Reticuline (38), one of the most important intermediates in the biosynthesis of opium alkaloids, has been synthesized in racemic form (Scheme 7) (78). 6-Methoxy-7-benzyloxyisoquinoline (39), prepared from O-benzylisovanillin via a modified Pomeranz-Fritsch isoquinoline synthesis, was treated with benzoyl chloride and potassium cyanide to obtain Reissert compound 40. Alkylation of the anion generated from 40 with 3-benzyloxy-4-methoxybenzyl chloride gave the corresponding 1-substituted Reissert compound 41 which was hydrolyzed in alkaline medium to 1-benzylisoquinoline derivative 42. Quatemarization of 42 with methyl iodide followed by sodium borohydride reduction and debenzylation led to ( )-reticuline (38) in about 25% overall yield from 39. 

Among the great number of different approaches for the synthesis of phthal-ideisoquinoline alkaloids the application of Reissert compounds, developed first by Kerekes et al. (42,43), proved to be one of the most efficient and suitable methods (Scheme 24). Treatment of isoquinoline Reissert compounds 26 or 28 with sodium hydride in dimethylformamide resulted in the formation of the corresponding Reissert anions, which were reacted with dimethoxy- or meth-ylenedioxy-substituted o-formylbenzoic acid ester derivatives 178 and 179, respectively. The presumed mechanism of this reaction involves an initial reaction... 

The 1.2.3.4-tetrahydroisoquinoline skeleton represents the framework found in many isoquinoline alkaloid derivatives and not only from plants. Some derivatives attracted much interest because of their anti-cancer activity [124], which has prompted many groups to invest in their chemical synthesis. The Pictet-Spengler reaction has become an important method in the preparation of this alkaloid type, and has often been described with phenylalanine derivatives and pyruvates as starting materials. Synthesis of appropriate tetrahydroisoquinoline-3 and the corresponding tetrahydroisoquinoline-1-carboxylic acid has been the key target [125]. 

The monoterpene isoquinoline alkaloids are constituents of the genus Cephaelis and selected other Rubiaceae species. C. ipecacuanha (ipecac) is a powerful emetic whose active principle is emetine, derived through the condensation of dopamine and secologa-nin (Fig. 33). Emetine is also a powerful amebicide, antiviral, and inhibitor of protein synthesis. It is now largely replaced by synthetic dehydroemetine. 

Since a-amino-acids serve as starting materials for the synthesis of protein and the elaboration of many plant alkaloids, there must be a sharing of any amino-acid which is required for both of these activities. The extent to which this happens has been the subject of a new study in one particular plant, Lophophora williamsii, which produces isoquinoline and j8-phenethylamine alkaloids. These bases are derived from the a-amino-acid tyrosine and the results from feeding L-[f/- C]tyrosine indicate that this amino-acid is incorporated into the alkaloids approximately three times more efficiently than into protein. Only the L-isomer was examined and one wonders what the results with D-tyrosine would be in the light of the known preference for particular optical isomers of lysine in pipecolic acid and piperidine alkaloid biosynthesis. 

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