14-HYDROXYLATED DERIVATIVES OF VINCADIFFORMINE AND VINCAMINE

Hydroboration-oxidation of tabersonine 1 yielded as major product 14 β-hydroxy vincadifformine 9b, which was correlated with 14 β-hydroxy N(1)-methyl 2β-H, 16β-H dihydro vincadifformine 6b (previously prepared and characterised), and 14α-hydroxy vincadifformine 9a as minor product. The regio- and stereoselectivity of hydroboration-oxidation were interpreted. 9a and 9b were respectively oxidised and rearranged to the corresponding 14-hydroxy vincamines 13a and 13b. The coupling constants of H(14) on the NMR of the acetyl derivatives of 9a, 9b, 13a and 13b are consistent with an inversion of N(4) during the rearrangement leading from the vincadifformine to the vincamine skeleton. © 1979.