Catalytic Asymmetric Total Syntheses of (R)-Bgugaine and (R)-Irnidine

An enantioselective total synthesis of (R)-bgugaine and the first enantioselective total synthesis of (R)-irnidine are reported. The key steps are the asymmetric ‘clip-cycle’ formation of the pyrrolidine ring in 94:6 e.r., which is common to both natural products, followed by Liebeskind–Srogl coupling and Wolf-Kishner reduction. The route yields (R)-bgugaine and (R)-irnidine in 6 steps and in overall yields of 33% and 18% respectively.