Diverse Asymmetric Quinolizidine Synthesis: A Stereodivergent One-Pot Approach

Abstract

A diverse stereodivergent organocatalytic one-pot addition/cyclization/annulation sequence to optically active quinolizidine derivatives from easily available starting materials is presented. The one-pot sequence relies on a pyrrolidine-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of electron-deficient amide α-carbons to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, spontaneous hemiaminal formation and acid-catalyzed/mediated N-acyliminium ion cyclization to give the quinolizidine framework. Simple tuning of the reaction conditions in the N-acyliminuim ion cyclization step provides a diastereomeric switch, which gives access to both of the two bridgehead epimers through kinetic, thermodynamic or chelation control. The methodology display a broad substrate scope that is demonstrated by the stereoselective formation of indolo-, thieno-, benzofuro-, furo- and different benzoquinolizidine derivatives with high atom efficiency, up to >99% ee and up to >95:5 dr. Due to its efficiency, synthetic diversity and operational simplicity, this protocol has the potential to find important use as a key step in natural product synthesis, biochemistry and pharmaceutical science. The stereochemical outcome of the one-pot sequence was investigated, and the mechanism and origin of stereoselectivity of the different steps is discussed.