Chiral synthesis of tri-O-methylimbricatine, an etherified derivative of the starfish alkaloid imbricatine

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)01232-5

A chiral synthesis of tri-O-methylimbricatine (2), the tri-O-methyl derivative of the unique benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid imbricatine (1) isolated from the starfish Dermasterias imbricata, has been accomplished. As a result of the synthesis, the correctness of the structure and absolute stereochemistry proposed for imbricatine has been unequivocally confirmed.