First Total Syntheses of (.+-.)-Isopiline, (.+-.)-Preocoteine, (.+-.)-Oureguattidine and (.+-.)-3-Methoxynordomesticine and the Biological Activities of (.+-.)-3-Methoxynordomesticine
convenient and economical synthesis of 4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethoxybenzaldehyde has been developed. This was used as the starting material for the first total syntheses of (+/-)-isopiline, (+/-)-preocoteine, (+/-)-oureguattidine and (+/-)-3-methoxynordomesticine in which the key step involved formation of ring C of the aporphines by a radical-initiated cyclisation. Although (+/-)-3-methoxynordomesticine