An Eleven-Step Synthesis of Galanthamine from Commercially Available Materials

Narwedine, an immediate precursor to the therapeutically valuable alkaloid (–)-galanthamine, has been synthesised by engaging an iodinated isovanillin derivative in an intermolecular Mitsunobu reaction with a 2-cyclohexen-1-ol derivative. The resulting aryl ether participated in an exceptionally efficient intramolecular Heck reaction to give a tetracyclic lactol after the hydrolysis of the primary cyclisation product. This last compound is an advanced intermediate associated with the Magnus synthesis of narwedine and could be elaborated to narwedine itself under reductive amination conditions. As a result, an eleven-step synthesis of galanthamine has been established.