Enantioselective total synthesis of (2R,3R,6R)-N-methyl-6-(deca-1′,3′,5′-trienyl)-3-methoxy-2-methylpiperidine, an insecticidal alkaloid

An insecticidal piperidine alkaloid, (2R,3R,6R)-N-methyl-6-(deca-1′,3′,5′-trienyl)-3-methoxy-2-methylpiperidine, was efficiently synthesized in a stereoselective manner starting from d-alanine. Chiral center at C-6 was controlled by hydrogenation of imine and side chain was introduced by Julia olefination. The absolute configuration of natural product was determined to be 2R, 3R, 6R.     

Studies on the Enantioselective Synthesis of E-Ethylidene-bearing Spiro[indolizidine-1,3′-oxindole] Alkaloids

A synthetic route for the enantioselective construction of the tetracyclic spiro[indolizidine-1,3′-oxindole] framework present in a large number of oxindole alkaloids, with a cis H-3/H-15 stereochemistry, a functionalized two-carbon substituent at C-15, and an E-ethylidene substituent at C-20, is reported. The key steps of the synthesis are the generation of the tetracyclic spirooxindole ring system by stereoselective spirocyclization from a tryptophanol-derived oxazolopiperidone lactam, the removal of the hydroxymethyl group, and the stereoselective introduction of the E-ethylidene substituent by acetylation at the α-position of the lactam carbonyl, followed by hydride reduction and elimination. Following this route, the 21-oxo derivative of the enantiomer of the alkaloid 7(S)-geissoschizol oxindole has been prepared.     

Structure and absolute stereochemistry of 19-epi-(+)-echitoveniline : A new indole alkaloid of the leaves of Alstonia venenata r.br.

19-Epi-(+)-echitoveniline, a new indole alkaloid of the leaves ofAlstonia venenata R.Br., has been shown to possess the structure and absolute stereochemistry represented by 5b on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence. A mechanistic rationale for the dependence of the mode of LAH reduction of the δ-lactone 11 on its configuration at C-19 has been offered. The influence of the C-19 configuration on the chemical shift values of the C-16 carbomethoxy protons in the 19-aroyloxy-(+)-and (?)-vincadifformine alkaloids has been discussed.     

Exploratory studies toward a total synthesis of the marine ascidian metabolite perophoramidine

A strategy for a total synthesis of the marine alkaloid perophoramidine has been investigated. Key steps which have been tested include a tandem intramolecular Heck/carbonylation reaction and a stereoselective allylation of a pentacyclic δ-lactam to produce the C-4/20 vicinal quaternary centers having the requisite relative configuration of the metabolite.     

Stereoselective syntheses of 20-epi cholanic acid derivatives from 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate

A stereoselective total synthesis of naturally occurring 20-epi cholanic acid derivatives has been realized, starting from readily available 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate. The key step of these syntheses involves an ionic hydrogenation of a C-20,22-ketene dithioacetal and deoxygenation of steroidal C-20 tert-alcohols, to set up the unnatural C(20R) configuration with 100% stereoselectivity. The unnatural C-22 aldehydes with C(20R) stereocenters thus obtained were elaborated to 20-epi cholanic acid derivatives. Two derivatives of 20-epi cholanic acid were synthesized and their structures have been confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. Catalytic hydrogenation of 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate and 16-dehydropregnenolone in ethanol affords C-5,C-16 tetrahydro products. Crystal structure analysis of one of these products revealed C-5α and C-17α configurations of the hydrogen atoms.     

Ionic hydrogenation-directed stereoselective construction of C-20(H) stereogenic center in steroid side chains: Scope and limitations

Stereoselective synthesis of steroidal C-20 tertiary alcohols with n-butyl, vinyl, furyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, aryl and pyridyl side chains via Grignard reaction or organolithium reagents have been realized starting from readily available 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate. The ionic hydrogenation of steroidal C-20 tertiary alcohols having furyl, methylfuryl, thienyl, phenyl and 4-methoxyphenyl side chains, resulted into the deoxygenated product with C-20 natural configuration in excellent yields. However, the alkyl, thiazolyl and pyridyl incorporated steroidal C-20 tertiary alcohols were failed under the same reaction condition. The scope of ionic hydrogenation is further highlighted through the stereoselective reduction of steroidal C-20,21-ene compounds with furyl, thienyl and 4-methoxyphenyl side chains gave the saturated compounds with C-20 natural configuration.     

Isolation and partial synthesis of 3(R)- and 3(S)-deoxypumiloside; structural revision of the key metabolite from the camptothecin producing plant,Ophiorrhiza pumila

Both the C-3 epimeric pair of 3(R)- and 3(S)-deoxypumiloside were found in Ophiorrhiza pumila (Rubiaceae), a source plant of camptothecinoid metabolites. These structures were confirmed by spectroscopic analysis and partial stereoselective syntheses. The configuration at C-3 of the previously reported “deoxypumiloside” is revised to 3(R) from 3(S).     

Iterative organometallic addition to chiral hydroxylated cyclic nitrones: highly stereoselective syntheses of alpha,alpha'- and alpha,alpha-substituted hydroxypyrrolidines

[reaction: see text]. Iteration of organometallic addition to chiral hydroxylated pyrroline N-oxides through an addition-oxidation-addition synthetic sequence allowed highly stereoselective double alkylation of pyrrolidine at C-2 or at C-2 and C-5 depending on the regioselectivity of the oxidation step. Application of this methodology has been exemplified by the synthesis of the all-substituted pyrrolidine alkaloid (-)-codonopsinine and of proline-type amino acid precursors possessing a quaternary stereogenic center, whose configuration can be controlled.     

Asymmetrically induced alkylation of 2-benzyl-4-isopropyl-2,4-dihydro-1H-pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-dione

The substitution of the 4-methyl group by a 4-isopropyl group in the 2-benzyl-2,4-dihydro-1H-pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-dione system allows a notable improvement in the stereoselective alkylation at C-1. The configuration of the newly introduced stereogenic centre has been assigned on the basis of ¹H NMR data and NOE measurements.     

Stereoselective synthesis and Lewis acid mediated functionalization of novel 3-methylthio-β-lactams

A proficient etiquette for the stereoselective synthesis of novel 3-methylthio-β-lactams and their Lewis acid mediated functionalization is described. Treatment of 2-methylthioethanoic acid and appropriate imines in the Staudinger reaction leads to the stereocontrolled synthesis of novel trans-3-methylthio-β-lactams in excellent yields. cis-3-Chloro-3-methylthio-β-lactams, obtained from stereoselective chlorination of trans-3-methylthio-β-lactams using N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) and AIBN, were subjected to Lewis acid (TiCl₄ or SnCl₄) mediated functionalization using various active aromatic, heterocyclic and aliphatic compounds (nucleophiles). This reaction provides an easy access to novel, stereoselective cis-3-monosubstituted-3-methylthio-β-lactams, which further undergo smooth desulfurization with Raney-nickel to afford C-3 cis- and trans-monosubstituted-β-lactams. The cis or trans configuration of the hydrogen/chloro/nucleophile substituent at C-3 was assigned with respect to C4–H.     

Synthesis of castanospermine

The diastereoselective synthesis of castanospermine is described in 11 synthetic steps from l-xylose. The borono-Mannich reaction between l-xylose, allylamine, and (E)-styrene boronic acid gives a tetrahydroxy amine with the desired configurations for C-6, C-7, C-8, and C-8a in the target molecule. A novel pyrrolo[1,2-c]oxazol-3-one precursor was employed to allow for the control of π-facial diastereoselectivity in an osmium(VIII)-catalyzed syn-dihydroxylation (DH) reaction. A regioselective ring-opening of the cyclic sulfate derivative of the resulting diol then secured the C-1 hydroxyl group of castanospermine with the correct configuration. A Mitsunobu cyclization then provided di-O-benzyl castanospermine and ultimately the final target alkaloid.     

Construction of A/E/F ring systems of C19-diterpenoid alkaloids with both C-1 and C-6 oxygen functions

An tricyclic AEF fragment of C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloid bearing an angular methyl group and the oxygen function groups at C-1 and C-6 was successfully synthesized. The synthesis features a stereoselective intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction and a highly efficient intramolecular Mannich reaction as well as efficient functional groups transformations.     

A new stereocontrolled entry into the anthracyclinone families. Part 1: Synthesis of bicyclic precursors of 4-demethoxy-7-deoxy-derivatives

A new and versatile strategy to obtain enantiomerically pure bicyclic precursors of compounds belonging to different anthracyclinone families is reported. Completely stereoselective hydrocyanation of (R)-4-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-p-tolylsulfinyl-2-butanone and further intramolecular capture of the Pummerer intermediate generated from the resulting sulfinylcyanohydrin are the key steps to obtain the bicyclic nitrile 2 with the proper configuration and functionality at C-9.     

Synthesis of 1-aminopyrrolizidine alkaloid (−)-absouline by stereoselective aminoconjugate addition

The diastereoselective aminoconjugate addition of benzylamine and lithiobenzylamine to both E and Z-configured vinylogous proline derivatives has been investigated. The results from this study have enabled the stereoselective synthesis of the 1-aminopyrrolizidine alkaloid (−)-absouline.     

Photochemistry synthesis. Part 2: Enantiomerically pure polyhydroxy-1,1,3-triarylpropan-2-ols

A new method to open the heterocyclic ring of flavan-3-ols via photolytic cleavage of the ether bond, with stereoselective trapping of the intermediates with phloroglucinol to obtain phloroglucinol grafted derivatives of flavan-3-ols, was developed. Photolysis of catechin and epicatechin, respectively, in the presence of phloroglucinol yielded the enantiomeric (1S,2S)- and (1R,2R)-1,3-di(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propan-2-ols, respectively. The absolute configuration at C-1 and C-2 was determined by electronic circular dichroism (experimental and calculated) and these results confirmed that the trapping mechanism is controlled by the C-3 configuration of the flavan-3-ol.     

Absolute configuration of the four stereoisomers of valnoctamide (2-ethyl-3-methyl valeramide), a potentially new stereospecific antiepileptic and CNS drug

Valnoctamide (2-ethyl-3-methyl valeramide, Nirvanil^®, VCD), a mild tranquilizer endowed with anticonvulsant properties, exhibits diastereoselective and enantioselective pharmacokinetics in healthy subjects and epileptic patients. The purpose of this paper is to assign the absolute configuration of the four VCD stereoisomers and to describe the stereoselective synthesis used to prepare two-key VCD stereoisomers. We have synthesized two out of the four stereoisomers, with high diastereomeric excess, by two different synthetic methods. In both methods the (S) configuration at C-3 of VCD was fixed by synthesizing (S)-3-methyl valeric acid from l-isoleucine. In the first method the diastereomeric mixture (2RS,3S)-VCD was prepared. This mixture gave one of the diastereomers via repeated crystallizations, and its absolute configuration (2R,3S)-VCD, was established by X-ray crystallography using a single crystal. The absolute configuration of all four VCD stereoisomers, separated by chiral gas chromatography, was established on the basis of diastereomeric and enantiomeric correlations. In order to assess stereoselective pharmacodynamic properties of VCD, the single stereoisomers have to be synthesized. Stereoselective synthesis of (2R,3S)-VCD and (2S,3S)-VCD was accomplished by using chiral oxazolidinone auxiliaries. These diastereomers were obtained in 99.6% diastereomeric excess.     

Relative stereochemical assignment of C-33 and C-35 in the antibiotic gladiolin

Gladiolin is a macrolide antibiotic isolated from Burkholderia gladioli BCC0238 with promising activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including several multidrug resistant strains. The configuration of all but one of the stereogenic centers of gladiolin has previously been elucidated using a combination of NOESY NMR experiments and predictive sequence analysis of the polyketide synthase responsible for its assembly. However, it was not possible to assign the configuration of the C-35 methyl group using such methods. Here we report the synthesis of C-33/C-35-syn and C-33/C-35-anti mimics of the C-30 to C-38 fragment of gladiolin from (R) and (S)-citronellol, respectively. Comparison of HSQC NMR data for the mimics and the natural product showed that the C-35 methyl is anti to the C-33 hydroxyl group, indicating that gladiolin has the 35S configuration.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 4-ethoxy-1-p-tolylsulfonyl-3,6-dioxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-ones

Optically pure sulfinylfuranones undergo oxidation at sulfur followed by a totally stereoselective epoxidation at the electron deficient double bond by treatment with MCPBA at room temperature to afford, in good yields, enantiomerically pure 4-ethoxy-5-alkyl-1-p-tolylsulfonyl-3,6-dioxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-ones. These epoxyfuranones are obtained along with cyclopropanefuranones by reaction of 4-ethoxy-6-p-tolylsulfinylfuro[3,4-c]pyrazolin-6-ones with MPCBA. In both cases, the formation of the sulfonyl epoxylactones takes place by oxidation of the sulfonylfuran-2(5H)-one resulting from the starting materials. This reaction is completely stereoselective (controlled by the configuration of C-5 of furanone) and results from the nucleophilic attack of the peroxycarboxylate generated by interaction of the reagent with weak basic centres at the substrates.     

Vilmoraconitine, a novel skeleton C19-diterpenoid alkaloid from Aconitum vilmorinianum

A novel C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloid vilmoraconitine (1) was isolated from the roots of Aconitun vilmorinianum. Its structure was mainly determined by MS, 2D NMR, and X-ray methods. This is the first aconitine-type C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloid with one three-membered ring at C-8, C-9, and C-10.     

A novel norsesquiterpene alkaloid from the mushroom-forming fungus Flammulina velutipes

A new norsesquiterpe alkaloid（1） was isolated from the solid culture of mushroom-forming fungus Flammulina velutipes fermented on rice.The structure of 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic methods.The absolute configuration of C-1 in 1 was determined using the circular dichroism data of their [Rh₂（OCOCF₃）₄]complex.