Reversing the Reactivity of Carbonyl Functions with Phosphonium Salts: Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)‐Centrolobine

Abstract

Step saver: Carbonyl groups with lower reactivities can be transformed in the presence of more reactive ones by treatment with PPh3 (or PEt3) and TMSOTf prior to the reaction (see scheme; TMS=trimethylsilyl, Tf=trifluoromethanesulfonyl). This methodology can be applied to reduction and alkylation reactions, and enabled the short asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-centrolobine with the highest overall yield reported to date.