Semisynthesis of (+)- and (−)-goniomitine from (−)- and (+)-vincadifformine

The first biomimetic semisynthesis of goniomitine has been accomplished in nine steps with 11% overall yield starting from vincadifformine. Natural (−)- and unnatural (+)-goniomitine were prepared from (+)- and (−)-vincadifformine, respectively. The evaluation of the antiproliferative effect of both enantiomers proved unnatural (+)-goniomitine to be more potent, but this enantiomer as well as some close derivatives displayed a moderate activity only.