Iridium‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Indole Cyclization: Application to the Total Synthesis and Absolute Stereochemical Assignment of (−)‐Aspidophylline A

Abstract

AbstractThe first enantioselective total synthesis of (−)‐aspidophylline A, including assignment of its absolute configuration has been accomplished. A key element of the synthesis is a highly enantioselective indole allylic alkylation/iminium cyclization cascade which was developed by employing a combination of Lewis acid activation and an iridium/ligand catalyst. This strategy relies on the direct use of 2,3‐disubstituted indoles with secondary allylic alcohols appended at C2 and heteronucleophiles appended at C3, indoles which are easily prepared from simple starting materials under C−H activation conditions.