Decahydroquinoline Ring 13C NMR Spectroscopic Patterns for the Stereochemical Elucidation of Phlegmarine-Type Lycopodium Alkaloids: Synthesis of (-)-Serralongamine A and Structural Reassignment and Synthesis of (-)-Huperzine K and (-)-Huperzine M (Lycoposerramine Y)

J Nat Prod. 2019 Jun 28;82(6):1576-1586. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00071. Epub 2019 Jun 5.

Abstract

Analysis of 13C NMR spectroscopic data of the phlegmarine subset of Lycopodium alkaloids revealed spectral patterns that allowed the stereochemical arrangement of the four stereogenic carbons in the decahydroquinoline core to be established. A relatively simple predictive set of chemical shift combinations is reported, providing a tool for the challenging stereochemical assignment of phlegmarine-type alkaloids. Based on the chemical shifts in their NMR spectroscopic profiles, the alkaloids huperzine K and huperzine M, formally reported as cis derivatives, were structurally reassigned as trans-decahydroquinolines. The NMR spectroscopic data for huperzine M were identical to those reported for lycoposerramine Y and, hence, also implied the configurational reassignment of the latter. The revised structures of the above alkaloids were confirmed by enantioselective total synthesis. Additionally, the synthesis of (-)-serralongamine A via a common intermediate precursor is reported.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids / chemical synthesis
  • Alkaloids / chemistry*
  • Lycopodium / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Structure
  • Quinolines / chemistry*
  • Sesquiterpenes / chemical synthesis*
  • Sesquiterpenes / chemistry
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Quinolines
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • serralongamine A
  • huperzine A
  • decahydroquinoline-5-carboxylic acid