Total syntheses of naamidine G and 14-methoxynaamidine G

Simple total syntheses of two Leucetta-derived marine alkaloids have been developed using position-specific halogen-metal exchange of polyhaloimidazoles to introduce the benzyl substituted sidechains. Introduction of the C2 amine group by lithiation and trapping with tosyl azide provides amines on catalytic hydrogenation, which can be converted to naamidine G and 14-methoxynaamidine G using a procedure described in the literature.