The first total synthesis of the Myrioneuron alkaloids (±)-α,β-myrifabral A and B has been accomplished in only four steps from conveniently available starting materials. This short synthesis relied on the use of a key tandem Mannich/amidation reaction to rapidly construct the core framework and two carbon stereocenters. The synthetic route allows for large scale preparation of these promising natural products against the hepatitis C virus (HCV).

The first asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-dihydrolyfoline and (-)-5-epi-dihydrolyfoline have been achieved in five and six steps with 4.6% and 14% overall yields, respectively, in which the chiral biaryl axes were constructed in a highly regioselective and stereoselective manner via a biogenetic enzymatic oxidative couplings of phenols, and the requisite quinolizidinone cores were prepared by an enzymatic Mannich reaction.

A novel tandem Mannich/intramolecular aminal formation between tryptamines and salicylaldehydes was reported. This strategy provides a promising approach for the stereoselective synthesis of a range of complex fused spiroindolines, which bear a highly congested contiguous spiro quaternary center and two tertiary stereocenters, in a highly economical and effective fashion.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Fused Spiroindolines via Tandem Mannich/Intramolecular Aminal Formation. -(YANG, J.; XIE, X.; WANG, Z.; MEI, R.; ZHENG, H.; WANG, X.; ZHANG, L.; QI, J.; SHE*, X.; J. Org. Chem. 78 (2013) 3, 1230-1235, http://dx.