Unprecedented One-Pot Sequence for the Synthesis of Tetrahydroquinoline Alkaloids and Preliminary Evaluation of their Antibacterial Activity

A novel one-pot sequence (in 2 or 3 steps) was developed for the synthesis of the tetrahydroquinoline alkaloids (±)-galipinine, (±)-cuspareine, (±)-galipeine and (±)-angustureine, and the derivative (±)-11-methoxy-5,6,6a,7,8,13-hexahydro-13a-aza-benzo[5,6]cyclohepta [1,2-a]naphthalene-12-ol from their respective Wittig adducts in moderate and high yields. The solvolytic N-methylation reaction was shown to be catalyzed by Pt⁰, generated in situ by reduction of PtO₂. The evaluation of biofilm inhibition and antibacterial activity of the compounds against Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from cows with mastitis revealed that the alkaloid derivative is a promising candidate for an antibiotic drug.

Keywords:
tetrahydroquinoline alkaloids; Wittig reaction; solvolytic N-methylation; antibacterial activity