Concise asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-arbornamine

Abstract

(+)-Arbornamine was synthesized in 11 steps from Bn-protected tryptamine. The strategy features an enantioselective monobenzoylation reaction to assemble the key aza-quarternary carbon center, and construction of the D/E rings in one pot through a cascade intramolecular Heck–hemiamination reaction.