Synthesis of ( + )-17, 18-Dimethoxyhexadehydroyohimbane A Key Intermediate in the Synthesis of Deserpidine Analogue

Department of Chemistry. University College of Science, Calcutta-700 009

An interesting method has been developed for the synthesis of ( ± )-17,18-dimethoxyhexadehydroyohimbane
(12)-a key intermediate in the synthesis of deserpidine analogue. 6,7-Dimethoxy-3-isochromanone (10) was used as the desired synthon for generating the non-nitrogenous moiety. The Iatter on condensation with tryptamine followed by a series of reactions yielded ( ± )-17,18-dimethoxyhexadehydroyohimbane.