Total synthesis of (±)-manzacidin D

We report herein the first total synthesis of the alkaloid manzacidin D, in 11 steps and 16% overall yield from commercially available glycine tert-butyl ester hydrochloride. Our synthesis demonstrates for the first time in a total synthesis the utility of two different methodologies. A highly diastereoselective iodocyclization of an olefinic isothiourea is used to induce stereocontrol at the quaternary centre, and to form the heterocyclic core. Conversion of a thiourea to the requisite formamidine is achieved in good yield using our modified procedure.