Asymmetric synthesis of quinine: A landmark in organic synthesis

Abstract

Ever since its isolation in 1820, Quinine has played a crucial role in the development of organic chemistry, the chemical industry and modern medicine. A total synthesis of quinine, widely regarded as an event of epochal importance, was claimed by Woodward and Doering in 1945. This work, however, heavily relied on unsubstantiated literature reports and it appears that Woodward's work fell short of a total synthesis of quinine. The first total synthesis of quinine was reported by Uskokovic in the 1970s. The first stereoselective total synthesis of quinine was accomplished only in 2001, by Stork, who incidentally is the originator of the concept of stereoselectivity in total synthesis. Apart from the stereoselectivity, Stork's synthesis of quinine is remarkable for its conceptual uniqueness and retrosynthetic novelty. Naturally, this work has been attested as a landmark in organic synthesis by leaders in the field. Subsequently, Jacobson and Kobayashi reported the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of quinine in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Both these synthesis have followed a similar approach. The present review has attempted to provide a concise account of the synthesis of quinine from a historical perspective.