Formal Syntheses of (−)-Quinocarcinamide and (−)-Quinocarcin

Concise and scalable formal syntheses of (−)-quinocarcinamide and (−)-quinocarcin have been achieved in 9 steps with 9% overall yield from simple commercially available chemicals. The synthetic strategy features an ortho-regioselective Pictet–Spengler cyclization for the construction of the tetrahydroisoquinoline skeleton, a stereoselective formal intramolecular [3 + 2] cross cycloaddition of cyclopropane 1,1-diester with an imine for the construction of the 3,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton.