An asymmetric synthesis of (+)-stephadiamine
has been
accomplished
featuring (a) an enantioselective dearomatizative Michael addition
to generate a quaternary stereocenter; (b) a domino sequence involving
reductive generation of nitrone from γ-nitro ketone followed
by a highly regio- and diastereo-selective intramolecular [3 + 2]
cycloaddition to construct the aza[4,3,3]propellane core with concurrent
generation of two quaternary stereocenters and two functional groups
ready for subsequent transformations; (c) the Curtius rearrangement
of the sensitive α,α-disubstituted malonic acid mono ester
for the installation of α,α-disubstituted amino ester
moiety; (d) a benzylic C–H oxidation under photoredox catalytic
conditions; and (e) a highly diastereoselective ketone reduction affording
δ-hydroxyester preorganized for lactonization.