HETEROCYCLIC KETONES AS PRE-FORMED BUILDING BLOCKS. SYNTHESIS OF (-)-SLAFRAMINE.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(95)01379-V

A synthesis of lactam 2, which constitutes a formal total synthesis of (-)-slaframine 1, is described with key steps being (a) intramolecular aldol reaction of ketoaldehyde 4 to establish the indolizidine framework and (b) diastereoselective reduction of enone 5 using the Corey oxazaborolidine 7.