Efficient and stereoselective installation of isoquinoline: formal total synthesis of cortistatin A

The highly stereoselective attachment of isoquinoline onto the steroidal framework of cortistatin A has been achieved. Our strategy features a Ce-mediated nucleophilic addition of an isoquinoline unit to the sterically congested ketone followed by formation of the phenyl thiocarbamate, and subsequent stereoselective radical reduction. The new method results in a formal total synthesis of cortistatin A.