Synfacts 2010(2): 0131-0131  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1219022
Synthesis of Natural Products and Potential Drugs
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Synthesis of Alkaloid (±)-G. B. 13

Contributor(s):Philip Kocienski
K. K. Larson, R. Sarpong*
University of California, Berkeley, USA
Total Synthesis of Alkaloid (±)-G. B. 13 Using a Rh(I)-Catalyzed Ketone Hydroarylation and Late-Stage Pyridine Reduction
J. Am. Chem. Soc.  2009,  131:  13244-13245  
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
21 January 2010 (online)


Significance

G. B. 13 is one of the 28 Galbuli­mima alkaloids isolated from a tree in Papua New Guinea. Some members of the family (e.g. himbacine) have potentially useful biological activity. The key step in the synthesis depicted is an unprecedented intramolecular rhodium(I)-catalyzed ­hydroarylation reaction (HI).

Comment

A vexatious step was the 1,3-allylic transposition of the alcohol C. A variety of reagents and conditions offered little hope until the discovery that the Parikh-Doering conditions were effective.