Stereocontrolled synthesis of 2-aryl tetralones. Application in the synthesis of B/C hexahydrobenzo[ c]phenanthridine alkaloids

Abstract

Hexahydrobenzo[ c]phenanthridines possessing a B/C cis ring junction have been synthesized in a stereoselective way starting from chiral non-racemic 2-aryl-tetralones prepared by asymmetric alkylation of ( +)-( S, S)-pseudoephedrine based arylacetamide enolates with appropriately functionalized 2-aryl-1-iodoethane electrophiles. Subsequent transformations (intramolecular Friedel–Crafts acylation, stereocontrolled reductive amination and Pictet–Spengler cyclization) yielded the target heterocycles in good overall yields and in excellent stereoselectivities.