Studies on the biomimetic synthesis of the manzamine alkaloids

Baldwin JE, Claridge TDW, Culshaw AJ, Heupel FA, Lee V, Spring DR, Whitehead RC

The biomimetic synthesis of the manzamine-related alkaloid keramaphidin B is described. The key intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction proposed in the Baldwin and Whitehead hypothesis is demonstrated. An investigation of the modified biomimetic hypothesis proposed by Marazano et al. is also reported. Finally, an alternative synthesis of keramaphidin B by Grubbs methathesis is presented.