Synthetic Studies on Quinine: Quinuclidine Construction via a Ketone Enolate Regio- and Diastereoselective Pd-Mediated Allylic Alkylation

7-Hydroxy-quinine was synthesized by an asymmetric aldol reaction that establishes the C8 and C9 stereochemistry, followed by construction of the 3-vinyl-quinuclidine azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane by C3−C4 ring closure using an intramolecular palladium-mediated allylic alkylation with excellent regio- and diastereoselectivity. This is the first report of a ketone-enolate-stereocontrolled allylic alkylation mediated by palladium. The title compound and a dehydro-quinine analogue were evaluated for antimalarial activity.