Progress in Asymmetric Synthesis of Galanthamine-Type Alkaloids

Galanthamine-type alkaloids are an important type of hydrodibenzofuran alkaloids. Their unique intriguing structures, significant biological activitives and pharmacological potential have attracted much attention of chemists and pharmacologists. The major challenge for their synthesis is how to construct the aryl-substituted all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center. In this paper, current strategies for asymmetric synthesis of galanthamine-type alkaloids are reviewed, and the different methods to prepare the quaternary carbon are discussed. The features of different strategies are also commented.