Radical measures: A radicalcouplingreaction, which is proposed to proceed through in situ chlorination of a hydroxy group by Me3SiCl, is used to form quaternary carbon centers with amino groups in α position. The reaction can be scaled up and is used in an efficient six‐step total synthesis of (±)‐9,10‐diepi‐stemoamide (see scheme, Cp=cyclopentadienyl, EWG=electron‐withdrawing group).
The synergistic action of BF3·OEt2 and SmI2 allowed a series of intermolecular cross-couplings of readily available N-acyl N,O-acetals with α,β-unsaturated compounds to be performed in high yields, which was applied to the stereoselective synthesis of pyrrolizidine alkaloid (+)-xenovenine.