A convergent approach towards the synthesis of the 2-alkyl-substituted tetrahydroquinoline alkaloid (−)-cuspareine

Abstract

A convergent approach towards the synthesis of the 2-alkyl-substituted tetrahydroquinoline alkaloid (−)-cuspareine via enantiospecific construction of the (R)-benzyl 2-formyl-3,4-dihydroquinoline-1(2H)-carboxylate. We have achieved an efficient enantiospecific synthesis of (−)-cuspareine starting from known key starting materials. The reactions employed for individual transformations are simple and high yielding, and the strategy could potentially be easily extended.