Sassafras oil, carrot bits and microwaves: green lessons learned from the formal total synthesis of (−)-talampanel

Abstract

A formal total synthesis of (−)-talampanel (1), a 2,3-benzodiazepine is described. This work was undertaken to utilize greener reaction conditions. Safrole (a renewable source) was converted to (1) in eight steps, including an enantioselective bioreduction using carrots as the key step. Microwave irradiation was also used to perform three reaction steps.