Asymmetric Synthesis of (-)-6-Desmethyl-Fluvirucinine A₁ via Conformationally-Controlled Diastereoselective Lactam-Ring Expansions.

The versatile synthesis of (-)-6-desmethyl-fluvirucinine A₁ was accomplished at a 24% overall yield through a thirteen-step process from a known vinylpiperidine. The key part involved the elaboration of the distal stereocenters and a macrolactam skeleton via conformationally-induced diastereocontrol and the iterative aza-Claisen rearrangements of lactam precursors.