Concise Total Synthesis of (−)‐Calycanthine, (+)‐Chimonanthine, and (+)‐Folicanthine

Abstract

Conjoined twins: An efficient and convergent strategy for the synthesis of the dimeric hexahydropyrroloindole alkaloids, (+)-chimonanthine, (+)-folicanthine, and (−)-calycanthine, is described. The simultaneous formation of the vicinal quaternary stereocenters by using a reductive dimerization reaction provides an access to the optically active key intermediate on a gram scale. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2007/z700705_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.