Total Synthesis of (–)-Aristoquinoline via an Intramolecular Nitrilium Ion Cyclization

The enantioselective total synthesis of the alkaloid aristoquinoline has been achieved in seven steps and 26% overall yield. A new preparation of the useful synthetic building block (–)-α-terpinyl amine was also developed in order to avoid stoichiometric mercury reagents or azide-containing intermediates. Key steps in the optimized synthetic route include an intramolecular nitrilium ion cyclization to form the characteristic azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ring system and a dia­stereoselective reduction of the resulting imine mixture to afford the natural product. An isomer of aristoquinoline containing an exocyclic alkene was also obtained and found to exhibit unusual chromatographic and spectroscopic properties.

A New Organocatalytic Desymmetrization Reaction Enables the Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Madangamine E

The enantioselective total synthesis of madangamine E has been completed in 30 steps, enabled by a new catalytic and highly enantioselective desymmetrizing intramolecular Michael addition reaction of a prochiral ketone to a tethered β,β’-disubstituted nitroolefin. This key carbon–carbon bond forming reaction efficiently constructed a chiral bicyclic core in near-perfect enantio- and diastereo-selectivity, concurrently established three stereogenic centers, including a quaternary carbon stereocenter, and proved highly scalable. Furthermore, the pathway and origins of enantioselectivity in this catalytic cyclisation were probed using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which revealed the crucial substrate/catalyst interactions in the enantio-determining step. Following construction of the bicyclic core, the total synthesis of madangamine E could be completed, with key steps including a mild one-pot oxidation-lactamisation, a two-step Z-selective olefination of a sterically hindered ketone, and ring-closing metatheses to install the two macrocyclic rings.