Biomimetic synthesis of yohimbine and heteroyohimbine alkaloids from 4,21-dehydrogeissoschizine

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)92746-1

The first biomimetic synthesis of the yohimbine skeleton (7) from a Corynanthe-type precursor (2) is reported as well as the transformation of the latter into both the 19R and 19S heteroyohimbine series. Reactions were performed on an alumina surface.