2-Lithio-3,3-diethoxy-1-propene

However, the related cuprate reagent (3), prepared from 2-lithio-3,3-diethoxy-propene and the dimethyl sulfide complex of cuprous bromide, undergoes... 

The synthesis commences with alkylation of oxindole 120 with spiroaziri-dinium triflate 109, providing the 3,3-disubstituted 121 in 53% yield (cf. Scheme 2.17). Treatment of 121 with boron trifluoride etherate at 100°C in toluene initiates the tandem retro Diels-Alder/intramolecular aza Diels-Alder process, leading to spiro-tetracyclic oxindoles 122 and 123 (1.5/1) in 61% yield. Addition of 2-lithio-l,l-diethoxy-2-propene to oxindole 122 provides carbinolamine 124 (95%). Exposure of 124 to p-toluenesulfonic acid in acetone-water followed by treatment with excess triethylamine in acetonitrile at 80°C effects the biomimetic transformation to adduct 126, which possesses the pentacyclic carbon framework of pseudotabersonine. This unique two-step one-pot transformation generates the inherently unstable dihydropyridine portion of dehydrosecodine 125, which participates in an intramolecular reverse electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction, providing 126 in 50% yield. The total synthesis is completed by transformation of the formyl group into the requisite carbomethoxy unit followed by N-benzyl deprotection (Scheme 2.19). 

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