The Total Synthesis of Aspidofractinine and Related Alkaloids

Abstract

The fascinating structural features and potential biological activities of aspidofractinine monoterpenoid indole alkaloids grasped the attention of synthetic community since 1964. Aspidofractinine also serves as the primary structural component to over 200 monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, in which most of these alkaloids’ total synthesis has been unexplored. In light of these facts, studies on synthetic strategies towards the complex, intriguing carbon skeleton of aspidofractinine have high implications. The intensive studies on the total synthesis of aspidofractinine alkaloids have resulted in numerous elegant strategies to construct the highly substituted hexacyclic core structure containing bicyclo[2.2.2]octane motif and three all‐carbon quaternary stereogenic centers. This review discusses all reported strategies for synthesizing aspidofractinine, and aspidofractinine‐like alkaloids.