Short syntheses of 16-methoxycarbonyl-16,17-dehydro-antirhine and its 10-oxy derivatives from secologanin

Stereoselective, enantiospecific syntheses of 16-methoxycarbonyl-16,17-dehydro-antirhine, its 10-hydroxy and 10-glucosyloxy derivatives have been realised from the corresponding tryptamines and the ethylene acetal of the monoterpenoid glucoside secologanin via hydrolysis and selective reduction of the aglucone with baker's yeast. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.