A concise synthesis of (-)-mesembrine

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)02032-2

(-)-Mesembrine 11 was synthesized in 7 steps, in 19.4% overall yield and with ee>95%. The key step of the sequence is a stereoselective alkylation reaction of dianion derived from C₂ symmetric imidazolines allowing efficient formation of quaternary benzylic center. Chiral auxiliaries derived from (S,S)-1,2-diamino-1,2-diphenylethane 1a and (S,S)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane 1b were compared. This synthesis provided unambiguous correlation of the newly formed stereocenter.