Using the easy lactamization of vincoside (4), epimer-free strictosidine (1) was prepared from secologanin (2) and tryptamine (3). 2D NMR methods were used to determine unambiguously the 1H- and 13C-NMR chemical shifts, the 1H−H and 13C−1H coupling constants, and the 1H−1H NOE interactions in strictosidine (1). A minimal number of spectroscopic parameters (11 coupling constants, 3 NOEs) and some theoretical considerations have made it possible to select the single species of the 648 selected stereoisomers and to confirm directly the S configuration at the newly formed C-3 chiral center, the P helicity of the dihydropyran and tetrahydropyridine rings, and the conformations around C-14 and the glycosidic bridge.

On the basis of the configuration of C-15 of the secologanin unit, using detailed NMR analysis, the configuration of C-3, the solution conformation around C-14, and the glucosidic bridge, as well as those of the dihydropyran and tetrahydropyridine rings, were determined in the vincosamide and strictosamide derivatives 4b and 5b. The stereochemical analysis was extended by chemical correlation to the 4-benzylated strictosidine and vincoside derivatives 3c and 3d. Experimental proof was presented for the interpretation of the "anomalous" chemical shift of acetylated strictosamide derivatives.

The coupling reaction of tetraacetylsecologanin with 2,3-dihydro-2-oxotryptamine and its N(b)-benzyl derivative was investigated. With the benzylated amine, the reaction was stopped at the tetracyclic ester level, and with the unsubstituted amine it was immediately followed by lactamization. In both cases, the products were formed with high stereoselectivity at C-3, but as an epimeric pair of 7R and 7S in a ratio of 1:3. The bulky benzyl substituent at N-4 directed the stereoselectivity at C-3 in favor of the S configuration. In the nonbenzylated compounds, the reversible coupling reaction is probably nonstereoselective, but in lactamization the 3R epimer is sterically favored and faster and gives the final lactam in this configuration. The formation of the spiro compounds may serve as a model reaction in the interpretation of the stereoselectivity of the coupling reaction of secologanin with tryptamine in the presence of strictosidine synthase.