A short synthetic route to the calystegine alkaloids.

An efficient strategy is described for the synthesis of enantiopure calystegine alkaloids. The key step employs a zinc-mediated fragmentation of benzyl-protected methyl 6-iodo-glycosides followed by in situ formation of the benzyl imine and Barbier-type allylation with zinc, magnesium, or indium metal. Stereochemistry in the pivotal allylation is controlled by the choice of the metal. The functionalized 1,8-nonadienes, thus formed, are converted into cycloheptenes by ring-closing olefin metathesis. Regioselective hydroboration and oxidation give the corresponding cycloheptanones, which are deprotected to afford the desired calystegines. Hereby, calystegine B(2), B(3), and B(4) are prepared from D-glucose, D-galactose, and D-mannose, respectively. This route constitutes the shortest synthesis of calystegine B(2) and gives rise to the first total syntheses of calystegine B(3) and B(4).