Synthesis of the core structure of phalarine

Abstract

The core skeleton of phalarine was rapidly synthesised through novel palladium-catalysed dearomative spirocyclisation and a palladium-catalysed Wacker-carbonylative cyclisation cascade. The two key steps allowed for the efficient construction of a tricyclic propeller skeleton bearing contiguous tetrasubstituted carbon centres, within 3 steps from a topologically planar precursor.