A Xylochemically Inspired Synthesis of Lamellarin G Trimethyl Ether via an Enaminone Intermediate

A concise high yielding synthesis of lamellarin G trimethyl ether has been achieved from precursors and solvents that can in principle be derived from xylochemical (woody biomass) sources. The route is comparatively green in that some reactions are performed without solvent or with relatively benign solvents. In addition, chromatographic purification of products is avoided, and only a single aqueous workup is performed. The novelty of the synthesis lies in the intermediacy of an enaminone for the construction of the central pyrrole ring. The overall yield of the product is among the highest reported to date.