Directed synthesis of all four pure stereoisomers of the N,C-Coupled naphthylisoquinoline alkaloid ancistrocladinium A

The first preparation of the N,C-coupled naphthylisoquinoline alkaloid ancistrocladinium A and its likewise naturally occurring minor atropisomer, in an atropisomerically pure form, is described. The synthesis succeeded by resolution of the already rotationally hindered, and thus atropo-diastereomeric acetamide precursors, which were then, without major loss of stereochemical information, cyclized to the respective target molecules. The strategy was applied to the first synthesis of the regioisomeric product ancistrocladinium D, likewise in a stereochemically pure form.