Development of an asymmetric formal synthesis of (-)-quinagolide via enzymatic resolution and stereoselective iminium ion reduction

Org Biomol Chem. 2023 Aug 9;21(31):6389-6396. doi: 10.1039/d3ob00946g.

Abstract

The stereoselective reduction of a diastereoisomeric mixture of benzo[g]octahydroquinolinium ion was examined in detail. A diastereoselective borohydride reduction in combination with an efficient deacylative enzymatic resolution of its β-aminoester precursor are the key steps for a stereoselective installation of the three chiral centres present in the (3S,4aS,10aR)-eutomer of the medicinal drug quinagolide. The obtained data paves the way for an easy and practical attainment of chiral 3-substituted octahydrobenzo[g]quinolines that are privileged structures in medicinal chemistry.