Efficient Synthesis of (-)-Corynoline by Enantioselective Palladium-Catalyzed alpha-Arylation with Sterically Hindered Substrates

Sterically hindered substrates can be employed in an enantioselective palladium-catalyzed alpha-arylation with the chiral monophosphorus ligand BI-DIME. This process enabled an efficient synthesis of the antidepressant (S)-nafenodone, a four-step enantioselective synthesis of the Sceletium alkaloid (+)-sceletium A-4, a concise five-step enantioselective synthesis of (-)-corynoline, as well as a three-step preparation of (-)-DeN-corynoline.