Unified total syntheses of (±)-sessilifoliamides B, C, and D

The first total syntheses of the Stemona alkaloids sessilifoliamides B and D and the second synthesis of sessilifoliamide C have been completed from a simple pyrrole substrate. The bicyclic lactam core was prepared on a gram scale via a Brønsted acid mediated cyclization and controlled oxidation with Dess–Martin periodinane. This delivered sessilifoliamide C (and its C-11 epimer) in 24% yield over 11 steps, and sessilifoliamides B and D in 13 and 17 steps, respectively.