10.1016/S0040-4039(00)74361-9
The study details the enantioselective synthesis of (-)-depentylperhydrohistrionicotoxin 2 from the chiral synthon (-)-3. The key steps involve the formation of a spiro skeleton through an aldol cyclization of a methyl ketone and an aldehyde function. The synthesis strategy includes the condensation of (-)-3 with 2-(2-bromoethyl)-1,3-dioxolane to form 4, which upon treatment with MeLi yields imine 5. The tricyclic ketal 6 is isolated instead of the expected ketone, and its ether system is reduced with LAH/AlCl3 to form an epimeric mixture of alcohols 7. Further steps include hydrogenation, protection with benzyl bromide, Swem oxidation to ketone 9, and a series of transformations involving 1,4-reduction, butyl chain addition, dehydration, and hydroboration-oxidation to finally yield (-)-depentylperhydrohistrionicotoxin 2. The study highlights the challenges and innovative solutions in synthesizing complex natural products with high stereochemical control.