Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-neosymbioimine.

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-neosymbioimine was accomplished in 18 steps from (-)-(S)-citronellol utilizing an organocatalytic alpha-oxidation of aldehyde 6. The carbon core was constructed by a tandem Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reaction and an intramolecular Diels-Alder cyclization. All double bonds of 12 were made in a stereoselective manner by Wittig-type reactions. Selective formation of the monosulfate monoester was accomplished by one-pot excessive sulfation followed by kinetic hydrolysis of bissulfate 18 in 79% yield.