Asymmetric Total Syntheses of (-)-Variabilin and (-)-Glycinol

Total syntheses of (-)-variabilin and (-)-glycinol have been accomplished, using the catalytic, asymmetric Interrupted Feist-Benary reaction (IFB) as the key transformation to introduce both stereogenic centers. A monoquinidine pyrimidinyl ether catalyst affords the IFB products In over 90% ee in both cases. Other key steps include an intramolecular Buohwald-Hartwig coupling and a nickel-catalyzed aryl tosylate reduction.