Enantiospecific total synthesis of indole alkaloids (+)-eburnamonine, (-)-aspidospermidine and (-)-quebrachamine

An enantiospecific total synthesis of indole alkaloids eburnamonine, aspidospermidine and quebrachamine is described from lactic acid. Synthesis of all three alkaloids is accomplished from a single chiral building block. Johnson-Claisen rearrangement of a chiral allyl alcohol is the main feature for the installation of the required quaternary centre. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.