Enantiocontrolled total synthesis of (-)-mersicarpine

A racemic synthesis of mersicarpine (1) was achieved by the Mizoroki-Heck reaction and a DIBALH-mediated reductive ring-expansion reaction. Based on a first-generation synthesis, a second-generation enantiocontrolled total synthesis of (-)-mersicarpine (1) was achieved by an 8-pot/11-step sequence in 21 % overall yield from commercially available 2-ethylcyclohexanone. Subjection of a ketoester, which was prepared by an asymmetric Michael addition (according to the protocol by d'Angelo and Desmaële), and phenylhydrazine to modified Fischer indole conditions provided a six-membered tricyclic indole. Benzylic oxidation and subsequent oxime formation provided a ketoxime, which was treated with diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBALH) to construct the characteristic azepinoindole skeleton in good yield. In the DIBALH-mediated reductive ring-expansion reaction, gradually increasing the reaction temperature and in situ-protection of the nitrogen in an oxygen-sensitive azepinoindole with a benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz) group were crucial for the high-yielding process. With these methodologies, the short-step and efficient synthesis of (-)-mersicarpine was accomplished. Several synthetic efforts are also described.