Strategic Synthesis of Furoquinoline Alkaloids through Vilsmeier Haack and Oxidative Cyclization Reactions

Sathiyamoorthy S, Pitchai P

Abstract

A vibrant skeleton for the synthesis of importanant furoquinoline alkaloids such as dictamnine 1, robustine 2, fagarine 3, kokusagnine 4, confussameine 5, haplopine 6, evolitrine 7 and skimmianine 8 is reported. The Vilsmeier Haack reaction was utilized to reach the critical intermediate, in moderate yield, whilst an intra-molecular oxidative cyclization, in the presence of oxalic acid, provided the targeted furoquinoline in high yield.