Direct and Short Construction of the ACDE Ring System of Daphenylline

Daphenylline, a novel daphniphyllum alkaloid, boasts a fused and bridging ring system coupled with six stereogenic centers. Here we present a direct and short construction of the ACDE ring system of daphenylline from the known 3‐(2‐bromophenyl)propanal in 10 steps and 17 % overall yield. The synthesis features an iron(III)‐catalyzed aza‐Cope‐Mannich reaction, a self‐terminating 6‐exo‐trig aryl radical‐alkene cyclization and an intramolecular Friedel–Crafts acylation. Ring ring, ACDE: A direct and short construction of the ACDE ring system of daphenylline has been accomplished from the known 3‐(2‐bromophenyl)propanal in 10 steps and 17 % overall yield. The synthesis features an iron(III)‐catalyzed aza‐Cope‐Mannich reaction, a self‐terminating 6‐exo‐trig aryl radical‐alkene cyclization, and an intramolecular Friedel–Crafts acylation.