Stereocontrolled Total Synthesis of (-)-Stemaphylline.

Homologation of readily available α-boryl pyrrolidines with metal carbenoids is especially challenging even when good leaving groups (Cl- ) are employed. By performing a solvent switch from Et2 O to CHCl3 , efficient 1,2-metalate rearrangement of the intermediate boronate occurs with both halide and ester leaving groups. The methodology was used in the total synthesis of the Stemona alkaloid (-)-stemaphylline in just 11 steps (longest linear sequence), with high stereocontrol (>20:1 d.r.) and 11 % overall yield. The synthesis also features a late-stage lithiation-borylation reaction with a tertiary amine containing carbenoid.