Electrocyclic ring-opening/pi-allyl cation cyclization reaction sequences involving gem-dihalocyclopropanes as substrates: application to syntheses of (+/-)-, (+)-, and (-)-gamma-lycorane.

The readily prepared gem-dibromocyclopropanes (+/-)-13 and (+/-)-19 each engage in a silver(I)-promoted electrocyclic ring-opening/pi-allyl cation cyclization sequence to deliver the hexahydroindole (+/-)-20, which participates in a Suzuki cross-coupling reaction with arylboronic acid 3 to give the tetracyclic compound (+/-)-21. Catalytic hydrogenation of this last compound proceeds in a completely stereoselective manner to give the saturated analogue (+/-)-24, which undergoes Bischler-Napieralski cyclization on reaction with phosphorus oxychloride. The resulting lactam (+/-)-25 is then reduced with lithium aluminum hydride to give (+/-)-gamma-lycorane [(+/-)-1]. By using (-)-menthyl-derived carbamates 27 and 28, this chemistry has been extended to the synthesis of the (+)- and (-)-modifications of the title compound.