Total synthesis of (±)-leuconolam: intramolecular allylic silane addition to a maleimide carbonyl group.

A concise total synthesis of the plant alkaloid (±)-leuconolam (1) has been achieved. A regio- and diastereoselective Lewis-acid mediated allylative cyclization was used to establish, simultaneously, two adjacent tetrasubstituted carbon centers. Furthermore, an essential arene cross-coupling to a hindered haloalkene was enabled by the use of a novel 2-anilinostannane.