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Construction of C2-indolyl-quaternary centers by branch-selective allylation: enabling concise total synthesis of the (±)-mersicarpine alkaloid.

Minakshi GhoshSamrat SahuShuvendu SahaModhu Sudan Maji
Published in: Chemical science (2023)
Herein we report a branch-selective allylation strategy for accessing C2-indolyl-all-carbon quaternary centers using allylboronic acids. This approach boasts broad functional group tolerance, scalability, and relies on easily accessible allyl alcohol precursors. Importantly, the C3-position of the indole remains free, offering a handle for further synthetic refinement. Mechanistic pathways, corroborated by density functional theory (DFT), suggest the involvement of an indolenine intermediate and a Zimmerman-Traxler-like transition state during allylboration. Demonstrating its efficacy, the method was applied to the total synthesis of the (±)-mersicarpine alkaloid and enabled formal synthesis of additional alkaloids, such as (±)-scholarisine G, (±)-melodinine E, and (±)-leuconoxine.
Keyphrases
  • density functional theory
  • molecular dynamics
  • alcohol consumption
  • molecular docking
  • molecular dynamics simulations