Total Synthesis of the Opioid Agonistic Indole Alkaloid Mitragynine and the First Total Syntheses of 9-Methoxygeissoschizol and 9-Methoxy-<i>N</i>_b-methylgeissoschizol

Abstract

An enantiospecific method for the synthesis of 4-methoxytryptophan has been developed via a regiospecific Larock heteroannulation and employed for the first total syntheses of 9-methoxygeissoschizol and 9-methoxy-Nb-methylgeissoschizol, as well as the total synthesis of the opioid agonistic alkaloid mitragynine. The asymmetric Pictet-Spengler reaction and a Ni(COD)2-mediated cyclization served as key steps.