Oxamidation of Unsaturated O-Alkyl Hydroxamates: Synthesis of the Madangamine Diazatricylic (ABC Rings) Skeleton

A novel approach to the diazatricyclic madangamine ABC ring system and the synthesis of an advanced, differentially protected intermediate for the synthesis of madangamine D is reported. Central to the success of this approach is the iodine(III)-mediated intramolecular oxamidation of an unsaturated O-methyl hydroxamate, a π-N+-type cyclization which proceeds in high yield and with complete regioselectivity to generate the 2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (morphan) system encompassing rings A and C.