Synthesis of a D-Ring Isomer of Galanthamine via a Radical-Based Smiles Rearrangement Reaction

The 1,9-ethanoiminomethano-bridged tetrahydrodibenzo[b,d]-furan 2, a non-natural isomer of the alkaloid (-)-galanthamine (1) varying in the manner in which the D-ring is annulated to the ABC-core, has been prepared in racemic form. The synthetic sequence starts with the cyclopropane 3 and involves intramolecular Heck alkenylation and radical-based Smiles rearrangement reactions as key steps. Unlike natural product 1, but as predicted by docking studies, compound 2 is not a potent inhibitor of acetylcholine esterase.