Asymmetric intramolecular aza-Michael reaction in desymmetrization processes. Total synthesis of hippodamine and epi-hippodamine

Org Lett. 2015 Feb 20;17(4):960-3. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.5b00054. Epub 2015 Feb 9.

Abstract

The use of chiral sulfinyl amines both as nucleophilic nitrogen sources and chiral inducers has been described for the first time in a desymmetrization-type process involving an intramolecular aza-Michael reaction. The resulting product was employed as an advanced intermediate in the total synthesis of the natural product hippodamine and epi-hippodamine, taking advantage of the special symmetry of these molecules. In addition, this is the first asymmetric total synthesis of epi-hippodamine.