Synthesis of the quinolizidine alkaloids (-)-lasubine II and (+/-)-myrtine by conjugate addition and intramolecular acylation of amino esters with acetylenic sulfones.

The conjugate additions of (2-piperidyl)acetate esters to acetylenic sulfones, followed by LDA-promoted intramolecular acylations, afforded cyclic enaminones that were readily converted into the corresponding 4-substituted 2-keto- or 2-hydroxyquinolizidines by stereoselective reduction and desulfonylation. This procedure was applied to the total synthesis of (-)-lasubine II from methyl (S)-(2-piperidyl)acetate and 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)ethyne. Similarly, methyl (+/-)-(2-piperidyl)acetate and 1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)propyne provided (+/-)-myrtine.