Monoterpene
indole alkaloids are a large class of natural products
derived from a single biosynthetic precursor, strictosidine. We describe
a synthetic approach to strictosidine that relies on a key facially
selective Diels–Alder reaction between a glucosyl-modified
alkene and an enal to set the C15–C20–C21 stereotriad.
DFT calculations were used to examine the origin of stereoselectivity
in this key step, wherein two of 16 possible isomers are predominantly
formed. These calculations suggest the presence of a glucosyl unit,
also inherent in the strictosidine structure, guides diastereoselectivity,
with the reactive conformation of the vinyl glycoside dienophile being
controlled by an exo-anomeric effect. (−)-Strictosidine
was subsequently accessed using late-stage synthetic manipulations
and an enzymatic Pictet–Spengler reaction. Several new natural
product analogs were also accessed, including precursors to two unusual
aryne natural product derivatives termed “strictosidyne”
and “strictosamidyne”. These studies provide a strategy
for accessing glycosylic natural products and a new platform to access
monoterpene indole alkaloids and their derivatives.