An unprecedented asymmetric catalytic tandem aminolysis/aza-Michael addition reaction of spirocyclic para-dienoneimides has been designed and developed through organocatalytic enantioselective desymmetrization. A unified strategy based on this key tandem methodology has been divergently explored for the asymmetric total synthesis of two natural Apocynaceae alkaloids, (+)-deethylibophyllidine and (+)-limaspermidine. The present studies not only enrich the tandem reaction design concerning the asymmetric catalytic assembly of a chiral all-carbon quaternary stereocenter contained in the densely functionalized hydrocarbazole synthons but also manifest the potential for the application of the asymmetric catalysis based on the para-dienone chemistry in asymmetric synthesis of natural products.

The first total syntheses of Lycopodium alkaloids palhinine A, palhinine D, and their C3-epimers have been divergently achieved through the use of a connective transform to access a pivotal hexacyclic isoxazolidine precursor. A microwave-assisted regio- and stereoselective intramolecular nitrone-alkene cycloaddition was tactically orchestrated as a key step to install the crucial 10-oxa-1-azabicyclo[5.2.1]decane moiety embedded in the conformationally rigid isotwistane framework, demonstrating the feasibility of constructing the highly strained medium-sized ring by introduction of an oxygen bridging linker to relieve the transannular strain in the polycyclic scaffold. Subsequent N-O bond cleavage provided the synthetically challenging nine-membered azonane ring system bearing the requisite C3 hydroxyl group. Late-stage transformations featuring a chemo- and stereoselective reduction of the pentacyclic β-diketone secured the availability of our target molecules.

We used aryl bromides as inexpensive starting materials to enantioselectively arylate aldehydes in one pot. Aryl bromides readily transfer aryls to aryllithiums with n-butyllithium, successively to triarylaluminums with aluminum chloride, and then to aryltitaniums with titanium isopropoxide. Finally aryltitaniums arylate aldehydes catalyzed by (S)-H8-BINOL-Ti(Oi-Pr)2 in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. The additive TMEDA evidently suppresses the racemic background reaction promoted by LiCl generated from salt metathesis. This procedure represents a cost-effective and operationally convenient method for enantioenriched diarylmethanols.

A novel Au-catalyzed [2 + 3] annulation reaction of enamides with propargyl esters has been developed, providing a new method for expeditious assembly of synthetically useful functionalized 1-azaspiro[4.4]nonane building blocks. Based on this key annulation, strategic installation of the pivotal azaspirocyclic core, followed by constructing the benzazepine unit via Witkop cyclization, led to the divergent total syntheses of cephalotaxine and cephalezomine H.

Palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric [4+5] annulation of ortho‐quinone methides (o‐QMs) with substituted vinylethylene carbonates (VECs) is described for the first time, giving a novel enantioselective approach to chiral nine‐membered benzoheterocycles. Based on this designed [4+5] annulation, an unprecedented silica gel‐promoted tandem rearrangement reaction featuring a unique asymmetric aromatic Claisen rearrangement is explored at room temperature, offering a new method for asymmetric construction of all‐carbon quaternary stereocenters embedded in chiral functionalized homoallylic alcohols.