First Total Synthesis of (-)-Antofine by Using Catalytic Phase Transfer Alkylation.

Phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid, (-)-antofine has attracted attention because of its extremely potent inhibition of cancer cell growth (Its $IC_50$ values have the low nanomolar range). The frist asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-antofine is described. An important feature of this synthesis is the creation of a stereogenic center by enantioselective alkylation using the phase transfer catalyst (PTC) and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) for pyrrolidine ring construction. This synthesis is efficient to allow the asymmetric preparation of other naturally occurring phenanthroindolizidine and phenanthroquinolizidine alkaloid.