[reaction: see text] A new strategy for epi-zephyranthine has been developed that is based in part on an extraordinarily facile intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of a 2-imido-substituted furan. By using a Rh(I)-catalyzed ring opening of the resulting oxabicyclic adduct, the cis-diol stereochemistry of epi-zephyranthine was established.
Alkaloids Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids