Iridium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Indole Cyclization: Application to the Total Synthesis and Absolute Stereochemical Assignment of (-)-AspidophyllineA

The first enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-aspidophyllineA, including assignment of its absolute configuration has been accomplished. A key element of the synthesis is a highly enantioselective indole allylic alkylation/iminium cyclization cascade which was developed by employing a combination of Lewis acid activation and an iridium/ligand catalyst. This strategy relies on the direct use of 2,3-disubstituted indoles with secondary allylic alcohols appended at C2 and heteronucleophiles appended at C3, indoles which are easily prepared from simple starting materials under C-H activation conditions.