Synthesis of Alkaloids and Compounds Containing the 3,4-Benzomorphan Scaffold

Abstract

Several natural products, bearing an embedded hexahydro-2,6-methano-1-benzazocine framework (3,4-benzomorphan) – a heterocyclic regioisomer of the 6,7-benzomorphan substructure found in morphine alkaloids, have therapeutic potential for a variety of diseases. Biogenesis, biosynthetic approaches, and total syntheses of alkaloids or synthetic azapolycyclic compounds featuring the aforementioned azatricyclic ring system (i. e., a 3,4-benzomorphan scaffold) are reviewed.