Divergent Total Syntheses of Napelline-Type C20-Diterpenoid Alkaloids: (−)-Napelline, (+)-Dehydronapelline, (−)-Songorine, (−)-Songoramine, (−)-Acoapetaldine D, and (−)-Liangshanone

The napelline-type alkaloids possess an azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane moiety and an ent-kaurane-type tetracyclic skeleton (6/6/6/5) along with varied oxidation patterns embedded in the compact hexacyclic framework. Herein, we disclose a divergent entry to napelline-type alkaloids that hinges on convergent assembly of the ent-kaurane core using a diastereoselective intermolecular Cu-mediated conjugate addition and subsequent intramolecular Michael addition reaction as well as rapid construction of the azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane motif via an intramolecular Mannich cyclization. The power of this strategy has been demonstrated through efficient asymmetric total syntheses of eight napelline-type alkaloids, including (−)-napelline, (−)-12-epi-napelline, (+)-dehydronapelline, (+)-12-epi-dehydronapelline, (−)-songorine, (−)-songoramine, (−)-acoapetaldine D, and (−)-liangshanone.