Total Synthesis of (-)-Rhazinilam and Formal Synthesis of (+)-Eburenine and (+)-Aspidospermidine: Asymmetric Cu-Catalyzed Propargylic Substitution.

A total synthesis of (-)-rhazinilam and formal syntheses of (+)-eburenine and (+)-aspidospermidine that rely on a copper(I)-catalyzed asymmetric propargylic substitution as the key step are reported. A salient feature of the reaction is the asymmetric construction of a quaternary stereocenter in high yield and enantiomeric excess.