Total syntheses of (+)-cylindricines C-E and (-)-lepadiformine through a common intermediate derived from an aza-Prins cyclization and Wharton's rearrangement.

[reaction: see text] Enantioselective total syntheses of (+)-cylindricines C-E and (-)-lepadiformine through a common tricyclic intermediate are described here. These syntheses are concise and feature an aza-Prins cyclization and a seldom-used Wharton rearrangement en route to the common intermediate.