Application of a Raney-Cobalt-Mediated Tandem Reductive Cyclization Protocol to Total Syntheses of the Aspidosperma Alkaloids (±)-Limaspermidine and (±)-1-Acetylaspidoalbidine

The racemic modification of the Aspidosperma alkaloid limaspermidine (1) has been prepared in ten steps including one involving a Raney-cobalt-mediated tandem reductive cyclization of nitrile 8 to give the tetracyclic system 9b. Compound (±)-1 has been converted over two steps into (±)-1-acetylaspidoalbidine [(±)-13].