Synthetic approaches to haplophytine. 2. Synthesis of 4-methylamino-1-(2-furanyl)-2-phenyl-2-(2-pivaloylamidophenyl)butan-1-one

Approaches to the synthesis of compounds related to the 7-aryl-7-[3-(1-hydroxy-2-aminophenyl)]-9-methylamino-5,6-dioxononanoic acid moiety (3) of the alkaloid haplophytine and its dihydrobromide are described. Treatment of the dianion of phenyl (o-pivaloylamidophenyl)methane with 2-furancarboxaldehyde followed by oxidation of the resulting alcohol gives 1-(2-furanyl)-2-phenyl-2-(2-pivaloylamidophenyl)ethanone (14). This on allylation gives 1-allyloxy-1-(2-furanyl)-2-phenyl-2-(2-pivaloylamidophenyl)ethene (20), which on being heated at 80–95 °C undergoes an intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction. Heating the resulting product or 20 at 165 °C converts them to the C-allylation product of 14, 1-(2-furanyl)-2-phenyl-2-(2-pivaloylamidophenyl)pent-4-en-1-one (22). Oxidation of 22 gives 4-(2-furoyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-4-phenyl-1-pivaloyl-2-quinolinol, which on Borch reduction gives 4-methylamino-1-(2-furanyl)-2-phenyl-2-(2-pivaloylamidophenyl)butan-1-one (24) and 2-(2-furanyl)-1-methyl-3-phenyl-3-(2-pivaloylamidophenyl)pyrrolidine. Compound 24 is a potential advanced intermediate for the synthesis of compounds related to 3. Experiments directed to the incorporation of a methoxyl or methylthio substituent at the C-5 position of the furan ring of 24 are also described.