Total synthesis and establishment of the absolute stereochemistry of (+)-mostueine. Addition of chiral nucleophiles to 3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-9-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-β-carbolinium iodide

A highly convergent synthesis of the pentacyclic indole alkaloid (+)-mostueine (1) is described. The key step involved the coupling of the dianion derived from (1′S)-3-(1′-hydroxyethyl)-4-methylpyridine (4) with the iminium salt 3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-9-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-β-carbolinium iodide (3). Low asymmetric induction (15% de) at the C-1 position of the β-carboline ring system (C-3 of mostueine) was obtained. The nonfermenting baker's yeast-mediated reduction of 3-acetyl-4-methylpyridine provided the hydroxyethylpyridine component in acceptable yield (67%) and high optical purity (99.0% ee). This synthesis of 1 has established that the absolute stereochemistry of mostueine is (3S, 19R).