Total Synthesis of (-)-Daphenylline.

A concise and highly stereoselective total synthesis of the Daphniphyllum alkaloids (-)-daphenylline has been accomplished. The synthesis was started from (S)-carvone and proceeded via a stereoselective Mg(ClO4 )2 -catalyzed intramolecular amide addition cyclization, an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction to construct the ABCD tetracyclic core architecture, and a Robinson annulation coupled with an oxidative aromatization sequence. Finally, the DF ring system was installed through an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts cyclization. The total synthesis of (-)-daphenylline is achieved in 19 steps in the longest reaction sequence and in 7.6 % overall yield.