The alkaloids (+/-)-cryptopleurine 1, (+/-)-antofine 2, and (+/-)-deoxyperg
ularinine 3 were synthesized by Pictet-Spengler cyclization of the 2-arylme
thylpiperidine and -pyrrolidines 4, 5 and 6 obtained by sequential N-deprot
ection-reduction of the parent enecarbamates 7, 8 and 9. These latter were
made by the Horner reaction of phosphorylated carbamates 12 and 13 with the
appropriate aldehydes 10 and 11. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
reserved.