Preparation of vincadifformine and related derivatives

Abstract

This invention relates to the preparation of vincadifformine and related derivatives which are useful as starting material for the synthesis of among other alkaloids vincamine and other similar compounds possessing interesting psychopharmacologic properties. A tetrahydro-.beta.-carboline (II) is reacted with benzoyl chloride to provide a 2-benzoyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9H-pyrido-(3,4-b)-indole (III). Then compound (III) is reduced to give a 2-benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9H-pyrido-(3,4-b)-indole (IV). Thereafter, compound (IV) is transformed by t-butyl hypochlorite into a chloroindolenine derivative (V) which is immediately treated with a metal dialkylmalonate such as thallium t-butyl methyl malonate to give a dialkyl 3-benzyl-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydroazepino-(4,5-b)-indole-5,5-dicarboxylate (VI). Compound (VI) is then partly decarboxylated into a alkyl 3-benzyl-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydro-(4,5-b) indole-5-carboxylate (VII). Compound (VII) is hydrogenated to give an alkyl 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydroazepino-(4,5-b)-indole 5-carboxylate (VIII). In an alternative embodiment, compound (VI) can be hydrogenated to the corresponding dialkyl 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydroazepino-(4,5-b)-indole-5,5-dicarboxylate which is then decarboxylated into compound (VIII). Compound (VIII) is condensed with a functionalised aldehyde, typically a epoxy aldehyde or a haloaldehyde such as 1-bromo-4-formylhexane, to give vincadifformine or similar pentacyclic derivatives.