Total syntheses of macrosphelides (+)-A, (−)-A and (+)-E

Total syntheses of (+)-macrosphelide A 1 (18.5% overall yield in 11 steps) and (+)-macrosphelide E 2 (23.9% overall yield in 11 steps) have been achieved via the chemoenzymatic reaction product (4R,5S)-4-benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-2(E)-hexenoate 4. The enantiomer (−)-A (1) (14.2% overall yield in 11 steps) of (+)-1 was also synthesized from the chemoenzymatic reaction product (4S,5R)-4-benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-2(E)-hexenoate 4.     

Synthesis of (+)-altholactone, (+)-7-epi-altholactone, (−)-etharvensin,and (+)-alumheptolide-A using Pd-catalyzed carbonylation

Syntheses of (+)-altholactone isolated from Goniothalamus giganteus and its C-7 epimer (+)-7-epi-altholactone, (?)-etharvensin and (+)-alumheptolide-A were achieved. The lactone ring of these compounds was constructed using Pd-catalyzed carbonylation.     

Synthesis of (+)- and (−)-Phaselic Acid

The syntheses of both enantiomers of phaselic acid (2-O-caffeoylmalate) are described. The previously unreported acetate-protected caffeic acid anhydride was used with appropriately protected malic acid derivatives as coupling partners to provide fully protected phaselic acid. Sequential unmasking of the protecting groups afforded phaselic acid in an acceptable overall yield.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® to view the free supplemental file.     

Enantioselective syntheses of (+)- and (−)-brazilin

Two enantiomers of brazilin were prepared in 9 steps from 7-hydroxychroman-4-one using the AD-mix-α and AD-mix-β-directed enantioselective dihydroxylation of 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2H-chromen-7-ol as a key step.     

Enantiodivergent synthesis of (+)- and (−)-isolaurepan

The enantiodivergent synthesis of (+)-and (?)-isolaurepan was achieved from a common chiral template easily available from tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal, using as key step a diastereoselective thermal Claisen rearrangement, combined with a ring expansion reaction using trimethylsilyldiazomethane.     

TiCl3-Mediated Synthesis of 2,3,3-Trisubstituted Indolenines: Total Synthesis of (+)-1,2-Dehydroaspidospermidine, (+)-Condyfoline,and (−)-Tubifoline

2,3,3-Trisubstituted indolenine constitutes an integral part of many biologically important monoterpene indole alkaloids. We report herein an unprecedented access to this skeleton by a TiCl₃-mediated reductive cyclization of tetrasubstituted alkenes bearing a 2-nitrophenyl substituent. The proof of concept is demonstrated firstly by accomplishing a concise total synthesis of (+)-1,2-dehydroaspidospermidine featuring a late-stage application of this key transformation. A sequence of reduction of nitroarene to nitrosoarene followed by 6π-electron-5-atom electrocyclization and a 1,2-alkyl shift of the resulting nitrone intermediate was proposed to account for the reaction outcome. A subsequent total synthesis of (+)-condyfoline not only illustrates the generality of the reaction, but also provides a mechanistic insight into the nature of the 1,2-alkyl shift. The exclusive formation of (+)-condyfoline indicates that the 1,2-alkyl migration follows a concerted Wagner–Meerwein pathway, rather than a stepwise retro-Mannich/Mannich reaction sequence. Conditions for almost quantitative conversion of (+)-condyfoline to (−)-tubifoline by way of a retro-Mannich/1,3-prototropy/transannular cyclization cascade are also documented.     

Concise enantiodivergent synthesis of (+)- and (−)-trans-quercus lactones

A concise enantiodivergent total synthesis of (+)- and (−)-quercus lactones from the known tricyclic lactone (+)-1 as a single chiral template was achieved using the diastereoselective nucleophilic addition of organometallic reagents as the key step.     

Oxidative Coupling Approach to Sarpagine Alkaloids: Total Synthesis of (−)-Trinervine,Vellosimine, (+)-Normacusine B,and (−)-Alstomutinine C

Sarpagine alkaloids are bioactive indole natural products that contain a highly rigid indole-fused 1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, more than 100 members of which have been identified. Herein, a detailed examination of the intramolecular oxidative coupling between a ketone and a Weinreb amide for assembling the complex 1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane core structure of sarpagine family alkaloids is described. Precise late-stage manipulations of the ketone and Weinreb amide enable the divergent syntheses of (−)-trinervine, (+)-vellosimine, (+)-normacusine B, and (−)-alstomutinine C. Other notable transformations of the synthesis featured an aza-Achmatowicz/indole cyclization cascade to generate the azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane structure, a regioselective elimination reaction to form the ethylidene motif embedded in the (+)-vellosimine and (+)-normacusine B structures, and a diastereoselective indole oxidative rearrangement to form the spirooxindole structure in (−)-alstomutinine C.     

A convergent approach to batzelladine alkaloids. Total syntheses of (+)-batzelladine E, (−)-dehydrobatzelladine C,and (+)-batzelladine K

We recently reported a convergent strategy to access the polycyclic guanidinium alkaloid (+)-batzelladine B via an aldol addition–retro-aldol–aza-Michael addition cascade. Here we describe the application of this approach toward the total syntheses of (+)-batzelladine E, (?)-dehydrobatzelladine C, and (+)-batzelladine K. The identification of suitable methods to functionalize a common tropane core by electrophilic alkynylation and nucleophilic 1,2-addition were essential to generalizing this approach. We provide evidence for the intermediacy of an acylallene species in the cascade reaction.     

Synthesis of (−)-okundoperoxide and determination of the absolute configuration of natural (+)-okundoperoxide

The first enantioselective synthesis of (3S,4aR,8aR)-1 (the enantiomer of natural okundoperoxide) has been accomplished. The synthesis features: 1) stereoselective installation of the peroxy functionality (16 → 17); 2) ring opening of peroxyacetal and subsequent intramolecular reaction between the hydroperoxide and the vinyl epoxide to form the peroxy six-membered ring (5 → 1). The absolute configuration of okundoperoxide was determined to be 3R,4aS,8aS by comparing specific rotations of the synthetic sample and the natural product.     

Enantioselective synthesis of the quinolizidine alkaloids (+)-myrtine and (−)-epimyrtine

The enantioselective synthesis of (+)-myrtine 1 and (−)-epimyrtine 2 is described starting from (S)-2-(2-hydroxypropyl)allyltrimethylsilane 4 using an intramolecular allylsilane N-acyliminium ion cyclization.     

Synthesis of (+)- and (−)-Tetrabenazine from the Resolution of α-Dihydrotetrabenazine

Abstract

Tetrabenazine (1) was reduced with NaBH₄ to α-dihydrotetrabenazine (2) and then resolved with di-p-toluoyl-L-tartrate and di-p-toluoyl-D-tartrate to subsequently give (+)- and (?)-α-dihydrotetrabenazine. The enantiomers were oxidized under Swern conditions to prepare samples of (+)-tetrabenazine and (?)-tetrabenazine. The samples were optically pure by chiral HPLC analysis.     

Concise Total Synthesis of (−)-Erinapyrone B from D-(+)-Malic Acid

A convenient and facile enantioselective synthesis of (?)-erinapyrone B from commercially available D-(+)-malic acid has been achieved in seven steps. One of the key steps in this synthesis was the one-pot reaction of palladium(II)-mediated Wacker-type oxidative cyclization in the presence of a catalytic amount of p-toluenesulphonic acid (p-TsOH) which has been found to be effective for the preparation of enantiopure 2,3-dihydro-4H-pyran-4-one from the corresponding enantiopure β-hydroxyenone via enantio-enriched diketohydroxy intermediate.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® for the following free supplemental resource(s): Full experimental and spectral details.]     

Divergent Total Syntheses of (−)-Daphnezomines A and B and (+)-Dapholdhamine B

The daphnezomine A-type subfamily of Daphniphyllum alkaloids structurally features a unique aza-adamantane core skeleton and anticipates efficient strategies for completing their syntheses to thoroughly investigate their biological activities. Herein, divergent total syntheses of (−)-daphnezomines A and B and (+)-dapholdhamine B have been accomplished in 16–20 steps from a known epoxide via rapid construction of a common core intermediate. The present work features a Ti-mediated radical cyclization to establish the azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ring system, an intramolecular Heck reaction to install the bridgehead all-carbon quaternary stereocenter, a tandem deprotection/reduction/keto amine-carbinolamine tautomerization to furnish the aza-adamantane backbone, and an NIS-promoted 6-endo-trig aminocyclization to assemble the (+)-dapholdhamine B backbone.     

A simple asymmetric synthesis of (+)- and (−)-2,6-diaminopimelic acids

The asymmetric synthesis of both the enantiomers of 2,6-diaminopimelic acid (2,6-DAP) has been accomplished starting from the chiral synthon 1.     

First synthesis of (+)- and (−)-elvirol based on an enzymatic function

A highly enantioselective synthesis of versatile chiral synthons possessing one stereogenic center, (S)- and (R)-4-aryl-5-hydroxy-(2E)-pentenoate 3 was achieved based on the enzymatic reaction of (±)-4 with commercially available lipase ‘OF-360’ from Candida rugosa. An application of (S)-3 and (R)-3 to the total syntheses of (S)-elvirol 1 and (R)-elvirol 1, respectively, is described.     

Studies on the synthesis of chiral nonracemic 3,4-disubstituted azepanes,a formal synthesis of (+)- and (−)-balanol

Sugar lactones were converted to 3,4-disubstituted azepanes and caprolactam derivatives by selective deoxygenation, functionalization and reductive cyclization. The cyclization proved troublesome with 6-azidolactols but led to good results with the corresponding lactones. A formal synthesis of (+)- and (−)-balanol is reported.     

Highly enantioselective synthesis of (+)- and (−)-perfluoroalkyl(aryl) homoallyl alcohols

Asymmetric allylboration of perfluoroaldehydes and fluorine substituted aromatic aldehydes with ^dIpc₂BAll and 2-Icr₂BAll has been investigated. Both enantiomers of the fluorinated homoallyl alcohols were obtained in high yields and excellent enantiopurity (95–99% ee).     

Isolation and Screening of Microorganisms for R-(+)-Limonene and (−)-β-Pinene Biotransformation

This work is focused on the biotransformation of R-(+)-limonene and (?)-β-pinene to bioflavor production. To carry out the present study, 405 microorganisms were tested for their ability to bioconvert the substrates. From the isolated microorganisms, 193 were selected in the prescreening using mineral medium for limonene degradation. At the screening step, eight strains were able to convert R-(+)-limonene and 15 to transform (?)-β-pinene, both in α-terpineol. The highest concentration in α-terpineol from R-(+)-limonene was about 3,450 mg/L for Penicillium sp. isolated from eucalyptus steam. From (?)-β-pinene, the highest product concentration of 675.5 mg/L was achieved using an Aspergillus sp. strain isolated from orange tree stem.     

Synthesis of R(−)-3-Benzyl-5(Methoxycarbonyl-Methylthiomethyl)-Hydantoin,A Potential Chiral Intermediate for (+) Biotin

Abstract

Simple and highly efficient synthesis of R(?)-3-benzyl-5 (methoxycarbonylmethylthiomethyl)-hydantoin (7a) from L(+) Cystine (1) is described.