A tandem, nitroalkene conjugate addition/[3+2] cycloaddition approach to the synthesis of the pentacyclic core of (±)-scandine

The complete pentacyclic core of the melodinus alkaloid scandine has been synthesized. The synthetic strategy features two key steps: (1) a tandem nitroalkene conjugate addition/[3+2] cycloaddition of the resulting silyl nitronate and (2) an intramolecular Heck reaction of an aryl iodide with a γ-disubstituted allylic alcohol which set a highly congested, quaternary stereogenic center with the concomitant formation of an aldehyde. Intramolecular reductive amination with this aldehyde completed the pentacyclic core.