Stereocontrolled total synthesis of (+)-vinblastine

Stereocontrolled total synthesis of (+)-vinblastine (1) has been achieved using a novel radical-mediated indole synthesis developed in our laboratories. The isothiocyanate 18, prepared readily from quinoline 17, underwent a facile addition of the malonate anion to give 19. The o-alkenylthioanilide 19 was then converted to indole 20 by radical cyclization and protection. (−)-Vindoline (2) was prepared from this key intermediate 20 in a highly efficient manner. The indole core of the 11-membered intermediate 3 was constructed similarly from quinoline. The critical coupling reaction between 2 and the chloroindolenine derived from 3 proceeded with complete control of stereochemistry to give the desired product 66 in 97 % yield, which could be successfully converted to (+)-vinblastine (1).