Application of an amidyl radical cascade to the total synthesis of (±)-fortucine leading to the structural revision of kirkine

A radical cascade initiated by a nitrogen-centred (amidyl) radical was developed, allowing the rapid construction of galanthan frameworks. It was applied to a concise, stereo/regio-selective and tin-free total synthesis of the natural product (±)-fortucine. This in turn resulted in the correction of the structure of kirkine.