An improved total synthesis of (-)-julocrotine in three steps from Cbz-glutamine, in 51% overall yield, is presented. To demonstrate the potential of the heterocyclic moiety for diversity oriented synthesis, a series of (-)-julocrotine analogues was synthesized by employing the heterocyclic precursor as an amino input in Ugi four-component reactions (Ugi-4CR) [1].
Keywords: Mitsunobu reaction; Ugi reaction; diversity oriented synthesis; julocrotine; leishmania.