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.