Chapter 9 - Recent advances in applications of Suzuki reaction in the total synthesis of alkaloids

Abstract

Undoubtedly, coupling reactions, and especially cross-coupling reactions, are the most imperative and vital class of reactions in the art of organic synthesis. In general terms, a coupling reaction (homocoupling) in organic chemistry is referred to as the reaction when two similar fragments are joined together with the aid of a catalyst to form a new bond. A cross-coupling reaction is a subset of the coupling reaction in which two different components interact in the presence, usually, of a metal catalyst to form a new bond. Cross-coupling reactions are employed as useful and powerful tools for the synthesis of complex molecules from simple commercially available or easily accessible compounds. As a well-established and powerful tool in the art of organic synthesis, coupling reactions enable complex molecules to be synthesized from simple molecules. Therefore, cross-coupling reactions are extensively used in both academia and industry, especially in the production of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Undoubtedly, among the above name reactions, Suzuki-cross coupling reaction (SCCR) (in many publications, this reaction also goes by the name Suzuki–Miyaura reaction) is one of the most useful and important ones, being rendered attractive as the method of choice, in terms of effectiveness, versatility, higher activity, the relatively lower toxicity of organo metallic (organoborons) or boronic acid derivatives, and their ease of synthesis, utilization and ease of handling. In this chapter, we try to follow and cover, the total synthesis of alkaloids using, Suzuki-cross coupling reaction (SCCR) reaction.