Regioselective and Stereoselective Reductive Aziridinium Ring Cleavage Leading to Azabicyclodecane Architecture:...

Enantioselective synthesis of cytotoxic indole alkaloid (+)-subincanadine F was accomplished starting from the corresponding ( S)-acetoxysuccinimide via aziridinium ring formation and its reductive ring expansion route. Regioselective and stereoselective reductive aziridinium carbon-nitrogen bond cleavage comprising ring expansions was a key step. The ( S)-OMOM protection of the hydroxyl moiety adjacent to a benzylic carbon of an in situ formed aziridinium system was necessary for lithium borohydride-induced reductive ring expansions, and it also served as a latent source of an essential ketone carbonyl group for the generation of an α,β-conjugated system.