Total Synthesis of the Ortho-Hydroxylated Protoberberines (S)‑Govaniadine, (S)‑Caseamine, and (S)‑Clarkeanidine via a Solvent-Directed Pictet–Spengler Reaction

The common para regioselectivity in Pictet–Spengler reactions with dopamine derivatives is redirected to the ortho position by a simple change of solvents. In combination with a chiral auxiliary on nitrogen, this ortho-selective Pictet–Spengler produced the 1-benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids (S)-crassifoline and (S)-norcrassifoline and the bioactive 1,2-dioxygenated tetrahydroprotoberberine alkaloids (S)-govaniadine, (S)-caseamine, and (S)-clarkeanidine with high enantiopurity. Ortho/para ratios up to 89:19 and diastereomeric ratios up to 85:15 were obtained during formation of the B-ring. The general applicability of this solvent-directed regioselectivity was demonstrated with a second Pictet–Spengler reaction as required for C-ring formation of caseamine (o/p = 14:86 in trifluoroethanol) and clarkeanidine (o/p = 86:14 in toluene).