Enantioselective synthesis of (−)-idiospermuline

The enantioselective total synthesis of the nonacyclic polypyrrolidinoindoline (−)-idiospermuline is described. Stereocontrolled formation of the vicinal quaternary carbon centers is achieved in a single step by dialkylation of an unsymmetrical prostereogenic dienolate with a tartrate-derived chiral dielectrophile. A catalyst-controlled diastereoselective Heck cyclization is employed to form the diaryl-substituted quaternary center.