Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (–)‐Gracilamine Using a Bioinspired Approach

Abstract

The asymmetric total synthesis of optically pure (–)‐gracilamine ( 1 ) was achieved by employing a bioinspired approach. The strategy involved elaboration of 3 a ‐arylhexahydroindole 7 , a designed precursor, to 3 a ‐formylarylhexahydroindole 5 , which upon heating with l ‐leucine ethyl ester gave (–)‐ 1 efficiently.