Ew Routes to Indolizidine Alkaloids: the Total Synthesis of (−) Grandisine B
ew Routes to Indolizidine Alkaloids: The Total Synthesis of (−)-Grandisine B James David Cuthbertson Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of York Department of Chemistry September 2011 Abstract The plant family Elaeocarpaceae has been the source of a plethora of structurally related alkaloids isolated over the last 50 years. This Thesis describes our synthetic approaches to (−)-grandisine B I, a bioactive indolizidine alkaloid isolated from Elaocarpus grandis in 2005. An overview of alkaloids isolated from the family Elaeocarpaceae is provided and preliminary studies into the synthesis of grandisine B I are described (Chapters 1 and 2). Novel routes to bicyclic lactams II and isoquinuclidinone frameworks III have been developed using aqueous ammonia in a one-pot amination/cyclisation sequence (Chapters 3 and 4). The scope of the developed methodology was initially demonstrated with a concise synthesis of the alkaloid (−)-mearsine V. A biomimetic synthesis of (±)- grandisine B I, using the alkaloid grandisine D IV as a synthetic precursor, is then described in Chapter 5. The development of a formic acid mediated alkyne/acetal cyclisation for the synthesis of heterocyclic scaffolds is also reported. The scope and limitations of the methodology are discussed and applications of the methodology in the synthesis of (−)-grandisine B I and structurally related Elaeocarpus alkaloids are described (Chapter 6). I Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................