Aza-Quaternary Scaffolds from Selective Bond Cleavage of Bridgehead-Substituted 7-Azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane: Total Synthesis of (+)-CylindricinesC-E and (-)-LepadiformineA

A novel bridgehead-substituted aza-bicyclic framework has been designed and developed in both enantiomeric forms through an asymmetric desymmetrization reaction. Strategic exploitation of the ring strain in the aza-bicyclic framework has been utilized for the construction of the chiral aza-quaterenary scaffolds by selective bond fragmentation processes. Furthermore, a strategically designed precursor is employed for selective bond cleavage to initiate a cascade rearrangement for the total synthesis of the 1-azaspirotricyclic marine alkaloids (+)-cylindricinesC, D, and E, as well as (-)-lepadiformineA. An oxidation/retro-aldol/aza-Michael sequence generated three new chiral centers with the required configuration in one pot.