Total synthesis of (±)-isophellibiline.

The total synthesis of (±)-isophellibiline is described. This represents the first synthesis of a member of the nonaromatic homoerythrinan family of alkaloids. The tetracyclic ring system of the natural product was quickly assembled by a strategy that features a retrocycloaddition/cycloaddition reaction of an amidodioxin, an intramolecular Heck reaction and a 6π-electrocyclic ring closure of a dienoic acid.