Total Synthesis of (−)‐Daphenylline by Gold‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Dearomatization Reaction of Methoxynaphthalene

Abstract

AbstractDaphenylline, a structurally unique triterpenoid Daphniphyllum alkaloid, has attracted considerable attention from the synthetic community since its isolation. Herein, we delineate an enantioselective total synthesis of (−)‐daphenylline, which is based on a gold‐catalyzed dearomatization reaction of β‐methoxynaphthalene. Other features include installation of the initial chiral stereocenter via an enantioselective rhodium‐catalyzed hydrogenation of an alkylidene‐indane derivative; construction of the other vital stereocenter by organocatalytic asymmetric Mukaiyama–Michael reaction of a structurally complex benzofused cyclohexanone; and a tandem reductive amination/amidation double cyclization reaction to assemble the distinctive azapolycyclic cage‐like architecture.