Activated imines as carbon electrophiles: applications in alkaloid synthesis

3,4-Dihydroisoquinolines and 3,4-dihydro-β-carbolines react with trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulphonate to form complexes that react readily with the lithio derivatives of 3-cyano-4-methylpyridines; the method has been applied to the synthesis of the Alangium alkaloids, (±)-alangimaridine and alangimarine.