The naturally occurring cyclopeptide alkaloid sanjoinine G1 and its C-
11 epimer were synthesized in 18 steps from D-serine. The key steps in
the synthesis were the formation of the alkylaryl ether linkage via a
ll SNAr reaction with 4-fluorobenzonitrile and the macrocyclization to
form the 14-membered ring using a modification of the Schmidt protoco
l involving an activated pentafluorophenyl ester. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc
ience Ltd. All rights reserved.