The asymmetric Birch reduction and reduction–alkylation strategies for synthesis of natural products

Abstract

Synthetic applications of the asymmetric Birch reduction and reduction–alkylation are reported. Synthetically useful chiral intermediates have been obtained from chiral 2-alkoxy-, 2-alkyl-, 2-aryl- and 2-trialkylsilyl-benzamides I and the pyrrolobenzodiazepine-5,11-diones II. The availability of a wide range of substituents on the precursor benzoic acid derivative, the uniformly high degree of diastereoselection in the chiral enolate alkylation step, and the opportunity for further development of stereogenic centers by way of olefin addition reactions make this method unusually versatile for the asymmetric synthesis of natural products and related materials.