This study describes the synthesis of the pyrido[1,2-a]azepine alkaloids. The bicyclic compound 1 containing the A-B core ring structure was synthesized in 17 steps in 1.7% overall yield starting from 4-pentyn-1-ol. The key steps involve an oxidation of 1,4 diol to lactone and an ene-yne ring closing metathesis reaction.
Keywords: Pyrido[1, 2-a]azepine, Stemona alkaloids, bromolactonization, aminolysis reaction, ene-yne lactam, vinyl iodide.