A concise enantiocontrolled route to yohimbones using a bicyclo[3.2.1]octane chiral building block

A facile enantio- and diastereocontrolled construction of 18-keto-pseudoyohimbane from a bicyclo[3.2.1]octane chiral building block has been developed employing a tandem retro-aldol and Pictet–Spengler sequence. The epimerization of the resulting pseudoyohimbane into the corresponding yohimbane derivative has also been achieved.