Total Synthesis of (±)-Corymine

Abstract

The first total synthesis of the hexacyclic indole alkaloid (±)-corymine is described. Starting from the readily available N-protected tryptamine, the title compound was achieved in 21 steps in 3.4 % overall yield. Key steps of the synthesis include: a) the addition of a malonate to a 3-bromooxindole to afford 3,3-disubstituted oxindole, b) the formation of a 12-membered cyclic enol ether by intramolecular O-propargylation, immediately followed by propargyl Claisen rearrangement to provide the α-allenyl ketone stereospecifically, c) DMDO oxidation to install a hydroxy group in a highly stereoselective manner, and d) the SmI₂ -mediated reductive C-O bond cleavage to remove the α-keto carboxyl group.

Keywords: alkaloids; natural products; rearrangements; samarium; total synthesis.