The efficient synthesis of morphinandienone alkaloids by using a combination of hypervalent iodine(III) reagent and heteropoly acid.

The non-phenolic coupling reaction of benzyltetrahydroisoquinolines (laudanosine derivatives) by using a hypervalent iodine(III) reagent is described. In general, chemical oxidation of laudanosine gives glaucine. In contrast to general chemical oxidizing reagent systems, the novel use of reagent combination of phenyliodine bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA), and heteropoly acid (HPA) afforded morphinandienone alkaloids in excellent yields. In order to achieve the coupling reaction with simple reaction procedure, the use of HPA supported on silica gel instead of HPA was demonstrated and sufficient yield was exerted again. The present reagent system, PIFA/HPA, was also applied to the oxidation of other non-phenolic benzyltetrahydroisoquinolines and the high yield conversion to morphinandienones was accomplished.