Diastereoselective synthesis of alpha-tocopherol: a new concept for the formation of chromanols

A diastereoselective synthesis of alpha-tocopherol 1 (93% de) was achieved via two key steps, (i) a highly diastereoselective Shi epoxidation of a trisubstituted alkene and (ii) an acid supported, "anti-Baldwin" epoxide ring opening under inversion of configuration leading to the 6-membered chromanol ring.     

Total Synthesis of Aquayamycin

An efficient and practical total synthesis of aquayamycin has been accomplished. The highly oxidized and stereochemically complex tetracyclic ring system was constructed using three key reactions: 1) highly diastereoselective 1,2‐addition of C‐glycosyl naphthyllithium to a cyclic ketone, 2) indium‐mediated site‐selective allylation‐rearrangement sequence of naphthoquinone, and 3) diastereoselective intramolecular pinacol coupling. This synthetic strategy offers a novel and efficient pathway to prepare aquayamycin‐type angucycline antibiotics.     

[2+2] Photocycloaddition of 3‐Alkenyloxy‐2‐cycloalkenones: Enantioselective Lewis Acid Catalysis and Ring Expansion

By application of substoichiometric amounts (50 mol %) of a chiral Lewis acid, the intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition of the title compounds was achieved with high enantioselectivity (up to 94 % ee). Upon cleavage of the cyclobutane ring the resulting tricyclic products underwent ring‐expansion reactions under acidic conditions and formed anellated seven‐ or eight‐membered‐ring systems without racemization. The ring expansion could be combined with a diastereoselective reduction (triethylsilane) or allylation (allyltrimethylsilane) upon BF₃ catalysis (48–87 % yield).     

Total synthesis of the ristocetin aglycon

The first total synthesis of the ristocetin aglycon is described employing a modular and highly convergent strategy. An effective 12-step (12% overall) synthesis of the ABCD ring system 3 from its amino acid subunits sequentially features an intramolecular aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction for formation of the diaryl ether and closure of the 16-membered CD ring system (65%), a respectively diastereoselective (3:1, 86%) Suzuki coupling for installation of the AB biaryl linkage on which the atropisomer stereochemistry can be further thermally adjusted, and an effective macrolactamization (51%) for closure of the 12-membered AB ring system. A similarly effective 13-step (14% overall) synthesis of the 14-membered EFG ring system 4 was implemented employing a room-temperature intermolecular S(N)Ar reaction of an o-fluoronitroaromatic for formation of the FG diaryl ether (69%) and a key macrolactamization (92%) with formation of the amide linking residues 1 and 2. The two key fragments 3 and 4 were coupled, and the remaining 16-membered DE ring system was closed via diaryl ether formation to provide the ristocetin tetracyclic ring system (15 steps, 8% overall) enlisting an unusually facile (25 degrees C, 8 h, DMF, >/=95%) and diastereoselective (>/=15:1) aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction that benefits from substrate preorganization.     

The Total Synthesis of (±)‐Naupliolide: A Tetracyclic Sesquiterpene Lactone

The first total synthesis of (±)‐naupliolide has been achieved. The synthetic method includes a Simmons–Smith cyclopropanation of an allyl alcohol, diastereoselective cleavage of a benzylidene acetal group, radical cyclization of an aldehyde with a cyclopropane ring, and construction of an eight‐membered ring by ring‐closing metathesis.     

Exploiting the Pd- and Ru-catalyzed cycloisomerizations: enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-allocyathin B2

Pd- and Ru-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of 1,6-enynes are compared and contrasted. Such considerations led to the enantioselective synthesis of a cyathin terpenoid, (+)-allocyathin B(2) (1). The synthesis features a Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) to install the initial quaternary center, a Ru-catalyzed diastereoselective cycloisomerization to construct the six-membered ring, and a diastereoselective hydroxylative Knoevenagel reaction to introduce the final hydroxyl group. We demonstrate for the first time a mechanism-based stereochemical divergence in Pd- and Ru-catalyzed cycloisomerization reactions as well as in creation of alkene geometry with alkynes bearing a carboalkoxy group. Mechanistic rationalization is proposed for these observations.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (-)-swainsonine, (+)-1,2-di-epi-swainsonine,and (+)-1,2,8-tri-epi-swainsonine

The asymmetric synthesis of (-)-swainsonine via a nonchiral pool route that involves the Sharpless epoxidation to induce chirality is reported. The key steps involve vinyl epoxide aminolysis, ring-closing metathesis, and intramolecular N-alkylation to prepare the indolizidine ring and a highly diastereoselective cis-dihydroxylation using AD-mix-alpha. This synthetic strategy also allowed for the diastereoselective synthesis of (+)-1,2-di-epi-swainsonine and (+)-1,2,8-tri-epi-swainsonine.     

Total syntheses of (+/-)-cis-trikentrin A and (+/-)-cis-trikentrin B via electrocyclic ring closures of 2,3-divinylpyrrolines

[Structure: see text] A convergent and versatile strategy for the diastereoselective syntheses of (+/-)-cis-trikentrin A and B in 10 and 12 steps, respectively, from commercially available N-BOC-2-pyrrolidinone is described. The key step in each of the total syntheses is the construction of the central benzene ring via a facile 6pi-electrocyclic ring closure of an appropriately substituted 2,3-divinylpyrroline, in turn, readily available by a Stille coupling reaction.     

Total synthesis of (-)- and ent-(+)-vindoline

[reaction: see text] Two exceptionally concise total syntheses of (-)- and ent-(+)-vindoline are detailed enlisting a diastereoselective tandem [4 + 2]/[3 + 2] cycloaddition of a 1,3,4-oxadiazole. The unique reaction cascade assembles the fully functionalized pentacyclic ring system of vindoline in a single step that forms four C-C bonds and three rings while introducing all requisite functionality and setting all six stereocenters within the central ring including three contiguous and four total quaternary centers.     

A diastereoselective total synthesis of the sesquiterpene (±)-mutisianthol

The total synthesis of the phenolic sesquiterpene mutisianthol has been accomplished in 12 steps from the readily available 2-methylanisole. The required trans-1,3-disubstituted indan intermediate was obtained through a diastereoselective thallium(III) mediated ring contraction of a 1-methyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene derivative.     

A novel route to linear polycyclic compounds. Diastereoselective aldol-type reactions of α-sulfonyl carbanions

Aromatic derivatives, bifunctionalized at vicinal benzylic positions with Br and SO₂PH groups undergo one-pot annulations with unactivated cycloalkanones. The ring closure occurs by a diastereoselective aldol-type reaction of α-sulfonyl carbanions.     

Diastereoselective borono-Mannich reactions on cyclic N-acyliminium ions

The addition of boronic acids to five- and six-membered ring N-acyliminium ions has been employed to prepare 5- and 6-substituted 4-hydroxypyrrolidin-2-ones and 5-hydroxypiperidin-2-ones, respectively, in a diastereoselective fashion.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-heliannuol A

An efficient and enantiocontrolled total synthesis of (-)-heliannuol A has been accomplished by employing ring closing metathesis and sequential diastereoselective epoxidation and regioselective reductive cleavage of the epoxide ring.     

Total synthesis of (+)-allocyathin B2

The first enantioselective synthesis of (+)-allocyathin was achieved. The synthesis features a Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation to install the first quaternary center, a Ru-catalyzed diastereoselective cycloisomerization to construct the six-membered ring, and a diastereoselective hydroxylative Knoevenagel reaction to introduce the final hydroxyl group. The unusual olefin isomerization of the Ru-catalyzed cycloisomerization was discussed and exploited for the synthesis.     

Total synthesis of (±)-cortistatin J from furan

A concise, diastereoselective total synthesis of (±)-cortistatin J has been completed in 20 steps from furan. Key steps include an intramolecular [4 + 3] cyclization of a disubstituted furan with a (Z)-2-(trialkylsilyloxy)-2-enal to construct the tetracyclic core and a (Z)-vinylsilane/iminium ion cyclization to form the A ring.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-scabronine G via intramolecular double Michael reaction and Prins cyclization

The enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-scabronine G is described. The key features of the present synthesis include the construction of a 5-6 ring system containing two quaternary carbon centers via a diastereoselective intramolecular double Michael reaction and the formation of a seven-membered ring using a Prins cyclization.     

Two chemodivergent anionic domino processes from cyclic α-nitroketones and aromatic aldehydes

Treatment of cyclic α-nitroketones and aromatic 1,2-dialdehydes with DBU in tetrahydrofuran containing small amounts of water proceeded through two chemodivergent one-pot domino pathways, whose outcome depended on the ring size of the starting nitroketone. Thus, α-nitrocyclohexanone underwent diastereoselective α′-arylmethylenation reactions through a nitroaldol/aldol/reverse nitroaldol mechanism. On the other hand, α-nitrocycloheptanone and α-nitrocyclooctanone afforded 2-nitroindane-1,2-diols containing three contiguous stereocenters in a highly diastereoselective fashion through a nitroaldol/retro-Dieckmann/intramolecular nitroaldol process.     

Diastereoselective photochromism of bisbenzothienylethenes with an oxycarbonyl-related functional group on the side chain

Nine 1-[2-(1-substituted)ethyl-3-benzothienyl]-2-(2-methyl-3-benzothienyl)hexafluorocyclopentenes (4-substituted benzoyloxy, N-arylcarbamoyloxy, and aryloxycarbonyloxy) were synthesized. They showed diastereoselective photochromic ring closure upon UV irradiation. Among them, 4-nitrophenoxycarbonyloxy-substituted compound recorded a remarkable 94% diastereomer excess with 91% conversion to the closed form.     

Selective C−C Coupling of Vinyl Epoxides with Diborylmethide Lithium Salts

Vinyl epoxides and styrene oxide can react with diborylmethide lithium salts through an exclusive S_N2 borylmethylation/ring opening in a regio- and diastereoselective way, depending on the nature of the substrate. The ring-opening protocol provides homoallylboronates that can be transformed into challenging diastereomeric bishomoallylic alicyclic 1,3-diols. Unprecedented 3-borylated 1,2-oxaborolan-2-ol products were prepared by borylmethylation/ring opening of 2-methyl-2-vinyloxirane followed by intramolecular cyclization.     

A Biomimetic Synthesis of (±)‐Basiliolide B

A highly diastereoselective and practical biomimetic total synthesis of (±)‐basiliolide B has been achieved through the study of the two proposed biosynthetic pathways (O‐methylation and O‐acylation) for the unprecedented 7‐methoxy‐4,5‐dihydro‐3H‐oxepin‐2‐one (C ring). The synthesis featured a cyclopropanation/ring opening strategy for establishing the stereogenic centers at C8 and C9, a biomimetic 2‐pyrone Diels–Alder cycloaddition for the synthesis of the ABD ring system, and finally a highly efficient biomimetic intramolecular O‐acylation for the C ring formation. This result provides an important perspective on the biosynthetic origin of the unprecedented 7‐membered acyl ketene acetal moiety of the C ring.