Synthesis of Substituted Quinolizidines via a Gold-Catalyzed Double Cyclization Cascade

A novel synthesis of quinolizidines by a cationic gold-catalyzed double cyclization cascade has been developed. The reaction was initiated by the gold-catalyzed 6-exo-dig cyclization of ynamides, which was followed by a second cyclization of an enamide intermediate to provide the corresponding quinolizidine derivatives. The utility of this reaction was demonstrated by application to the synthesis of multi-substituted quinolizidines and by the total synthesis of a quinolizidine alkaloid, (±)-lupinine.