Formal stereoselective synthesis of (±)-akagerine
Abstract
A stereoselective synthesis of pentacyclic dilactam 1, a known precursor of the indole alkaloid akagerine, involving addition of the enolate of 1-acetylindole 2 to 3-acetyl-2-fluoropyridinium salt 3, cyclization of the resultant 1,4-dihydropyridine, elaboration of the (E)-ethylidene substituent and closure of the C ring by Pummerer reaction, is reported.