Total Synthesis of (-)-Aurantioclavine

The concise total synthesis of (-)-aurantioclavine has been achieved by taking advantage of strategies for the asymmetric alkenylation of N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines. The enantiomerically pure natural product was prepared in 6 steps and 27% overall yield by using Rh-catalyzed addition of a N-methyliminodiacetic acid (MIDA) boronate and in 5 steps and 29% yield by employing a Grignard reagent addition sequence.