Synthesis of the Core Tricyclic Ring Domain of (-)-Schulzeine B.

A formal synthesis of (-)-schulzeine B, a marine natural alkaloid possessing potent antidiabetic activity, has been achieved. A benzo[a]quinolizidin-4-one is a common skeleton of schulzeines (A-C). (-)-Schulzeine B possesses an (S)-stereogenic center at the C-3 carbon. The chiral (3S,11bS)-3-amino-9,11-dimethoxybenzo[a]quinolizidin-4-one has been prepared efficiently from (2-bromo-3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)acetonitrile in 17 steps including (i) a dehydrative intramolecular amination catalyzed by HClO4 and (ii) a proline or boric acid catalyzed transcycloamidation reaction for the construction of the δ-lactam ring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]