Total syntheses of (-)-mesembrane and (-)-mesembrine via palladium-catalyzed enantioselective allylic substitution and zirconium-promoted cyclization

4-Arylhexahydroindole derivatives 5 were synthesized from 2-arylcyclohexenyl allylamine derivatives 4, which have a large protecting group on nitrogen, using zirconium-promoted cyclization. Reaction of 4e with Cp2ZrBu2, followed by treatment with MeMgBr and then O-2, gave 2a in 63% yield by a one-pot reaction, since the approach of Oz to zirconium was prevented by the aryl group. The total syntheses of (+/-)-mesembrane and (+/-)-mesembrine were achieved starting from 2a. To synthesize these natural products in a chiral form, the starting allylamine derivative 24 (80% yield, 86% ee, recrystallized from MeOH, 99% ee with 79% recovery) was prepared from allyl carbonate 22a and N-tosylallylamine 23 using palladium-catalyzed asymmetric amination in the presence of (S)-BINAPO as a chiral ligand. (-)-Mesembrane and (-)-mesembrine were synthesized from this allylamine 24.