Concise Total Synthesis of (−)‐Quinocarcin Enabled by Catalytic Enantioselective Reductive 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of Secondary Amides

Abstract

A concise asymmetric total synthesis of (À )quinocarcin has been accomplished with high step economy from commercially available starting materials. A catalytic enantioselective reductive 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of N-heteroaryl secondary amides with reactive dipolarophiles using iridium/copper relay catalysis was developed to prepare the key chiral pyrrolidine intermediate with three stereocenters. This protocol features excellent regio-, exo-and enantioselectivities, broad substrate scope, and good functional group tolerance. The high efficiency was also ensured by a Rh III -catalyzed CÀ H activation/cyclization and a tandem diastereoselective hydrogenation/cyclization to construct the tetrahydroisoquinoline-pyrrolidine tetracyclic core unit of quinocarcin.