A Review of Advances in the Synthesis of Analogues of the Delphinium Alkaloid Methyllycaconitine

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of the (alpha)7 sub-type are potential targets for drug development in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The Delphinium alkaloid methyllycaconitine is a potent and selective (alpha)7 sub-type selective nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist. The total synthesis of this pharmacologically active alkaloid has not yet been achieved. A summary of semi-synthetic methods to prepare methyllycaconitine is presented. Existing synthetic strategies used to prepare E, AE, AEF, ABE, ABDE, ABEF ring analogues of methyllycaconitine are reviewed for the first time.