Total Synthesis of Scholarisine K and Alstolactine A

Org Lett. 2017 Apr 7;19(7):1922-1925. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.7b00722. Epub 2017 Mar 30.

Abstract

The first asymmetric total syntheses of scholarisine K and alstolactine A have been accomplished. Our syntheses feature (1) ring closure metathesis and an intramolecular Heck reaction to construct the 1,3-bridged [3,3,1] bicycle (C-D ring), (2) intramolecular alkylation followed by Fischer indolization to form the basic skeleton of akuammilines, and (3) bioinspired, acid-promoted epoxide opening/lactonization to generate the second lactone ring of alstolactine A. These results provide evidence of a biogenetic relationship between scholarisine K and alstolactine A, which should facilitate the preparation of other akuammiline-type natural products and their derivatives for functional studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't