Chemical transformations
that rapidly and efficiently construct
a high level of molecular complexity in a single step are perhaps
the most valuable in total synthesis. Among such transformations is
the transition metal catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloisomerization reaction,
which forges three new C–C bonds and one or more rings in a
single synthetic operation. We report here a strategy that leverages
this transformation to open de novo access to the Veratrum family of alkaloids. The highly convergent approach
described herein includes (i) the enantioselective synthesis of a
diyne fragment containing the steroidal A/B rings, (ii) the asymmetric
synthesis of a propargyl-substituted piperidinone (F ring) unit, (iii)
the high-yielding union of the above fragments, and (iv) the intramolecular
[2 + 2 + 2] cycloisomerization reaction of the resulting carbon framework
to construct in a single step the remaining three rings (C/D/E) of
the hexacyclic cevanine skeleton. Efficient late-stage maneuvers culminated
in the first total synthesis of heilonine (1), achieved
in 21 steps starting from ethyl vinyl ketone.