Asymmetric Total Synthesis of a Pentacyclic Lycopodium Alkaloid: Huperzine‐Q

Right on Q: the first asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-huperzine-Q, which possesses six stereogenic centers and a spiroaminal moiety, has been achieved in 19 steps and 16.4 % overall yield. This synthesis involved a novel stereoselective Pauson-Khand reaction, a vinyl Claisen rearrangement, and a biomimetic spiroaminal formation. TBDPS=tert-butyldiphenylsilyl.