Isolation, Synthesis, and Semisynthesis of Amaryllidaceae Constituents from Narcissus and Galanthus sp.: De Novo Total Synthesis of 2-epi-Narciclasine

An efficient protocol for the isolation of narciclasine from common Amaryllidaceae bulbs, separation from haemanthamine, and the occurrence of a trace alkaloid, 2- epi-narciclasine, are reported. Attempts to convert natural narciclasine to its C-2 epimer by Mitsunobu inversion or oxidation/reduction sequences were compromised by rearrangement and aromatization processes, through which a synthesis of the alkaloid narciprimine was achieved. The methylation of the 7-hydroxy group of natural narciclasine followed by protection of the 3,4-diol function and oxidation/reduction sequence provided the target C-2 epimer. A de novo chemoenzymatic synthesis of 2- epi-narciclasine from m-dibromobenzene is also described. Haemanthamine and narciprimine were readily detected in the crude extracts of Narcissus and Galanthus bulbs containing narciclasine, and the occurrence of 2- epi-narciclasine as a trace natural product in Galanthus sp. is reported for the first time.