Reactive enols in synthesis 2. Synthesis of (+)-latifolic acid and (+)-latifoline.

We describe a short, enantioselective synthesis of the naturally occurring pyrrolizidine alkaloid (+)-latifoline (1) employing a tandem [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement/[1,2] allyl shift as a key step in constructing (+)-latifolic acid (4).

Efficient syntheses of novel C2'-alkylated (+/-)-K252a analogues.

Recent efforts in our laboratories have resulted in a synthetic approach toward C2'-alkylated K252a analogues via extension of a K252a cyclofuranosylation strategy. The bis-indole-N-glycosidic coupling of 6-N-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-staurosporinone (21) with a number of highly functionalized carbohydrates has given access to previously unattainable, biologically relevant analogues.