Enantioselective total syntheses of the Ipecacuanha alkaloid emetine, the Alangium alkaloid tubulosine and a novel benzoquinolizidine alkaloid by using a domino process

Chemistry. 2004 Jun 7;10(11):2722-31. doi: 10.1002/chem.200306039.

Abstract

The first enantioselective syntheses of the Ipecacuanha alkaloid emetine (1) and the Alangium alkaloid tubulosine (2) is described employing a domino Knoevenagel/hetero-Diels-Alder reaction and an enantioselective catalytic transfer hydrogenation of imines as key steps. Thus, hydrogenation of the imine 15 with the catalyst (R,R)-16 gives the tetrahydroisoquinoline 14 with 95 % ee which was transformed into the aldehyde (1S)-7. The three-component domino reaction of (1S)-7 with 6 and 8 led to 19, which in a second domino process was treated with K(2)CO(3) in methanol followed by a hydrogenation to give the benzoquinolizidine 4 together with the diastereomers 22 and 23 in a overall yield of 66 %. Further transformation of 4 with the amines 3 and 5 yielded enantiopure emetine (1) and tubulosine (2), respectively. In addition, starting from 19 the novel benzoquinolizidine alkaloid 34 was synthesised; this compound resembles the vallesiachotamine alkaloid dihydroantirhin 31, which has not been isolated so far but probably must also exist in nature.

MeSH terms

  • Alangiaceae / chemistry*
  • Alkaloids / chemical synthesis*
  • Alkaloids / chemistry
  • Emetine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Emetine / chemical synthesis*
  • Emetine / chemistry
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / chemical synthesis*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / chemistry
  • Ipecac / chemistry*
  • Molecular Conformation

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring
  • tubulosine
  • Ipecac
  • Emetine