γ-Lycorane, a degradation product of the Aromaticaceae alkaloid lycorine, is one of the most attractive molecules in the Aromaticaceae family. It remains a popular target for synthesis due to its pentacyclic structure, which presents a vehicle for demonstrating the utility of new synthetic strategies. Various synthetic methods have been developed by synthetic chemists since the first synthesis of γ-lycorane by Nasuo in 1966. Thus, this review presents an overview of the literature on the ways utilized within the synthesis of γ-lycorane in racemic and enantiopure forms via electrophilic arylation, Pd-catalyzed C-C coupling, Bischler-Napieralski cyclization, Pictet-Spengler cyclization, photocyclization, radical cyclization, chiral pool synthesis, chiral auxiliary-mediated synthesis, and catalytic asymmetric synthesis, ranging from 1966 to 2022.
Keywords: alkaloid; formal synthesis; natural product; total synthesis; γ-lycorane.
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