Enantioselective Syntheses of (-)- and (+)-Homocitric Acid Lactones

Highly enantioselective syntheses of enantiomers of homocitric acid lactones (R)-5a and (S)-5b are described. Thermal Diels-Alder cycloadditions of 2a and 2b to 1,3-butadiene produced adducts 3a and 3b, respectively. Oxidative ozonolysis of latter adducts gave products 4a and 4b which after acid treatment afforded a mixture with 5a and 5b as major component. Acid lactones 5a and 5b were converted into their dimethyl esters 6a and 6b which were purified by chromatography. After saponification, the products obtained were crystallized to yield (-)- and (+)-homocitric acid lactones ((R)-5a and (S)-5b). Diastereomeric excess (de) of Diels-Alder adducts 3a and 3b was determined by means of Mosher esters of glycols 8a, 8b, and racemic 8. Diels-Alder cycloaddition products of lactones 2a and 2b to 1,3-butadiene showed a diastereoselectivity of 96%.     

Putative Diels-Alder-Catalyzed Cyclization during the Biosynthesis of Lovastatin

A Diels-Alder cyclization proposed to occur during polyketide synthase assembly of the bicyclic core of lovastatin (1) (mevinolin) by Aspergillus terreus MF 4845 was examined via the synthesis of the N-acetylcysteamine (NAC) thioester of [2,11-(13)C(2)]-(E,E,E)-(R)-6-methyldodecatri-2,8,10-enoate (5a). In vitro Diels-Alder cyclization of the corresponding unlabeled NAC ester 5b, ethyl ester 18b, and acid 20b yielded two analogous diastereomers in each case, under either thermal or Lewis acid-catalyzed conditions. The reaction of thioester 5 proceeds readily at 22 degrees C in aqueous media. For 18b, one product is trans-fused ethyl (1R,2R,4aS, 6R,8aR)-1,2,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-2,6-dimethylnaphthalene-1-carboxylate (30) (endo product), and the other is cis-fused ethyl (1R,2S,4aR,6R,8aR)-1,2,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-2,6-dimethylnaphthalene-1-carboxylate (31) (exo product). Isomer 21 with stereochemistry analogous to 4a,5-dihydromonacolin L (2), a precursor of 1, was made by transformation of a tricyclic lactone, (1S,2S,4aR,6S,8S,8aS)-1-(ethoxycarbonyl)-1,2,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-2-methyl-6,8-naphthalenecarbolactone (22) using reduction and Barton deoxygenation. Comparison of 21 with 30 and 31 confirmed the structural assignments and showed that the nonenzymatic 4 + 2 cyclizations of 5, 18, and 20 proceed via chairlike exo and endo transition states with the methyl substituent pseudoequatorial. The proposed biosynthetic Diels-Alder leading to lovastatin (1) would require an endo conformation with the methyl substituent pseudoaxial. Intact incorporation of the labeled hexaketide triene 5a into 1 was not achieved because of rapid degradation by A. terreus cells.     

Design of chiral bis-phosphoric acid catalyst derived from (R)-3,3'-di(2-hydroxy-3-arylphenyl)binaphthol: catalytic enantioselective Diels-Alder reaction of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes with amidodienes

Chiral bis-phosphoric acid 1 was designed to identify a new class of structural features in chiral Br?nsted acid catalysts. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the single atropisomer 1, bearing S axial chirality at 3,3'-biaryl substituents on (R)-binaphthyl and intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the two phosphoric acid moieties. The newly designed bis-phosphoric acid 1 was evaluated in the Diels-Alder reaction of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes 4 with 1-N-acylamino-1,3-butadienes 3. After systematic variation of the catalyst substituents, as well as the N-acyl substituents of 1,3-butadiene, the use of an N-Cbz amidodiene 3a in the presence of bis-phosphoric acid 1e with a 2,4,6-tri-isopropylphenyl group was found to be optimal to yield the 1S,6R enantiomeric product 5aa in a Diels-Alder reaction of acrolein (4a). Application of this method to substituted substrates was found to be an efficient approach to the enantioselective synthesis of 3- and 3,6-substituted cyclic formylcarbamates 5. The specific character as well as the utility of 1e was further established by comparing its enantioselectivity, absolute stereochemistry, and catalytic efficiency with those of mono-phosphoric acid 2.     

(1R,3S,4S)-2-苄氧羰基-2-氮杂双环[2.2.1]庚烷-3-羧酸的合成

以(R)-(+)-α-甲基苄胺为原料,依次经缩合,Diels-Alder反应,还原,Cbz-保护和水解反应,合成了抗丙肝新药HCV NS3/4A蛋白酶拟肽类抑制剂的重要中间体——(1R,3S,4S)-2-苄氧羰基-2-氮杂双环[2.2.1]庚烷-3-羧酸,总收率66%,其结构经1H NMR和ESI-MS确证。     

Toward the synthesis of norzoanthamine: complete fragment assembly

The complex marine alkaloid norzoanthamine (2) was envisioned to be assembled from three key building blocks: the C1-C5 fragment A, the C6-C10 fragment B, and the C11-C24 fragment C. The synthesis of fragment A was achieved in 14 steps and 33% overall yield from (R)-gamma-hydroxymethyl-gamma-butyrolactone. Fragment B was made in two steps from PMB-protected 4-pentynol in 76% yield. The C11-C24 fragment C was made from (S)-carvone via (R)-isocarvone in 18 steps (6% overall yield). The convergent stereoselective synthesis of the entire carbon framework (C1-C24) of the target molecule was achieved via the following assemblage. Alkenyl iodide 20 derived from the C11-C24 fragment C was coupled to fragment B (C6-C10) through a high-yielding Stille coupling reaction of these two sterically very demanding coupling partners, affording the key Diels-Alder precursor 24. The intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction proceeded smoothly in excellent yield and diastereoselectivity, generating the tricyclic trans-anti-trans perhydrophenanthrene motif of norzoanthamine (C6-C24). The final fragment coupling between lithiated fragment A (C1-C5) and aldehyde 40 (C6-C24) has also been successfully accomplished affording the entire carbon framework of the natural product.     

Preparation of perhydroisoquinolines via the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of N-3,5-hexadienoyl ethyl acrylimidates: a formal synthesis of (+/-)-reserpine

The intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of N-3,5-hexadienoyl ethyl acrylimidates provides an efficient method for the synthesis of cis-fused hexahydroisoquinolones. As a demonstration of the stereochemical control offered by this cycloaddition, two approaches to the construction of the DE rings of reserpine are reported. In the second entry, N-((4-(trimethylsilyl)ethoxymethoxy)methyl-6-benzyloxy-3Z,5E-hexadienoyl)-1-aza-2-ethoxy-1,3-butadiene (40) undergoes cycloaddition to produce as the major product (4aS,7R,8aS)-7-benzyloxy-5-((2-trimethylsilyl)ethoxymethoxy)methyl-3,4,4a,7,8,8a-hexahydroisoquinol-3-one (41). Cycloadduct 41 is then stereospecifically elaborated to (4aS,5S,6R,7R,8aR)-6-methoxy-5-methoxycarbonyl-7-(3,4,5-trimethoxy)benzoyldecahydroisoquinoline-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester (3), a key intermediate previously transformed to reserpine.     

Imidazolidin-2-ones as practical, efficient chiral auxiliaries in Diels-Alder reactions

The readily prepared (4R,5S)-1,5-dimethyl-4-phenylimidazolidin-2-one and its 4-cyclohexyl analogue proved to be very powerful face-selective auxiliaries in catalysed Diels-Alder cycloadditions of their ,β-unsaturated N-acyl dienophile derivatives.     

Synthesis of d- and l-2,3-trans-3,4-cis-4,5-trans-3,4-dihydroxy-5-hydroxymethylproline and tripeptides containing them

Enantiomerically pure (-)-(1R,4R,5R,6S)- and (+)-(1S,4S,5S,6R)-7-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-5,6-exo-isopropylidenedioxy-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-one ((-)-3 and (+)-3) have been obtained from the Diels-Alder adduct of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrole and 2-bromo-1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)acetylene, including the Alexakis optical resolution of ketone (+/-)-3 via formation of cyclic aminals with (1R,2R)-diphenylethylenediamine. Compounds (-)-3 and (+)-3 were converted into d- and l-2,3-trans-3,4-cis-4,5-trans-N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-5-hydroxymethyl-3,4-isopropylidenedioxyprolines (-)-4 and (+)-4, respectively. Applying the Boc and Fmoc strategies of peptide synthesis, these compounds were used to construct two tripeptides containing the d- or l-2,3-trans-3,4-cis-4,5-trans-3,4-dihydroxy-5-hydroxymethylproline.     

Studies on Nepalese crude drugs. XXIX. Chemical constituents of Dronapuspi, the whole herb of Leucas cephalotes SPRENG

From the whole herb of Leucas cephalotes SPRENG., new labdane-, norlabdane- and abietane-type diterpenes named leucasdins A (1), B (2) and C (3), respectively, and two protostane-type triterpenes named leucastrins A (4) and B (5) were isolated, together with a known triterpene, oleanolic acid, five sterols, 7-oxositosterol, 7-oxostigmasterol, 7alpha-hydroxysitosterol, 7alpha-hydroxystigmasterol and stigmasterol, and eight flavones, 5-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone, pillion, gonzalitosin I, tricin, cosmosin, apigenin 7-O-beta-D-(6-O-p-coumaroyl)glucopyranoside, anisofolin A and luteolin 4'-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside. The structures of 1--5 were determined as (3S,6R,8R,9R,13S,16S)-9,13,15,16-bisepoxy-3,16-diacetoxy-6-formyloxylabdane, (3S,6R)-3-acetoxy-6-formyloxy-iso-ambreinolide, (4R,9S,12R,13R)-12,13-dihydroxyabiet-7-en-18-oic acid, (3S,17S,20S,24S)-3,20-dihydroxy-24-methylprotost-25-en, and (3S,17S,20S,24S)-3,20,24-trihydroxyprotost-25-en respectively, based on spectral and chemical data.     

Regioselective intramolecular ring closure of 2-amino-6-bromo-2,6-dideoxyhexono-1,4-lactones to 5- or 6-membered iminuronic acid analogues: synthesis of 1-deoxymannojirimycin and 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-D-glucitol

1-Deoxymannojirimycin (8c) was synthesised from 2-amino-6-bromo-2,6-dideoxy-D-mannono-1,4-lactone (7) by intramolecular direct displacement of the C-6 bromine employing non-aqueous base treatment followed by reduction of the intermediate methyl ester. Likewise, using aqueous base at pH 12, ring closure took place by 5-exo attack on the 5,6-epoxide leading to 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-L-gulonic acid (9b), which was reduced to 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-D-glucitol (9b). The method was further applied to 2-amino-6-bromo-2,6-dideoxy-D-galacto- as well as D-talo-1,4-lactones (14 and 15). However, only the corresponding six-membered ring 1,5-iminuronic acid mimetics, namely (2R,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxypipecolic acid (2,6-dideoxy-2,6-imino-D-galactonic acid, 16) and (2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxypipecolic acid (2,6-dideoxy-2,6-imino-D-talonic acid, 17), were obtained. The corresponding enantiomers, L-galacto- as well as L-talo-2-amino-6-bromo-2,6-dideoxy-1,4-lactones ent-14 and ent-15, reacted accordingly to give the D-galacto- and L-altro-1,5-iminuronic acid mimetics, (2S,3S,4R,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxypipecolic acid (2,6-dideoxy-2,6-imino-L-galactonic acid, ent-16) and (2R,3S,4R,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxypipecolic acids (2,6-dideoxy-2,6-imino-L-talonic acid, ent-17), respectively.     

Tandem ireland-claisen rearrangement ring-closing alkene metathesis in the construction of bicyclic beta-lactam carboxylic esters

4-Alkenyl-2-azetidinone systems were converted to the corresponding ethyl 2-?4-alkenyl-2-oxo-1-azetidinyl-4-pentenoates. In addition, 4-(2-propenyl-1-oxy)-, 4-(2-propenyl-1-thio)-, 4-?N-(2-propenyl)-(4-toluenesulfonyl)- and (3S, 4R)-4-(2-propenyl)-3-?(1R)-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)ethyl-++ +azeti din-2-one were converted into beta-lactam dienes via sequential N-alkylation, Ireland-Claisen ester enolate rearrangement and esterification. Ring-closing metathesis using the Schrock ?(CF(3))(2)MeCO(2)Mo(=CHCMe(2)Ph)(=NC(6)H(3)-2,6-iso-Pr(2)) (1) or Grubbs Cl(2)(Cy(3)P)(2)Ru=CHPh (2) carbenes gave a series of ?5.2.0 and ?6.2.0 bicycles. Subsequent elaboration of the analogous (2R,7R, 8S)-tert-butyl 8-?(1R)-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)ethyl-1-aza-9-oxobicyclo++ +?5.2. 0non-4-ene-2-carboxylate (15), via selenation and desilylation, gave (+)-(2S,7R,8S)-tert-butyl 8-?(1R)-hydroxyethyl-1-aza-9-oxobicyclo?5.2.0nona-2, 4-diene-2-carboxylate (18), a novel type of bicyclic beta-lactam. Diels-Alder cycloaddition further afforded tetracyclic systems exemplified by tert-butyl (1R,4S,5R,7S)-4-?(1R)-1-hydroxyethyl-3,9, 11-trioxo-10-phenyl-2,8,10,12-tetraazatetracyclo?5.5.2.0.(2, 5)0(8, 12)tetradec-13-ene-1-carboxylate (19).     

Five new nortropane alkaloids and six new amino acids from the fruit of Morus alba LINNE growing in Turkey

Investigation of the constituents of the fruits of Morus alba LINNE (Moraceae) afforded five new nortropane alkaloids (1-5) along with nor-psi-tropine (6) and six new amino acids, morusimic acids A-F (7-12). The structures of the new compounds were determined to be 2alpha,3beta-dihydroxynortropane (1), 2beta,3beta-dihydroxynortropane (2), 2alpha,3beta,6exo-trihydroxynortropane (3), 2alpha,3beta,4alpha-rihydroxynortropane (4), 3beta,6exo-dihydroxynortropane (5), (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-[(1S,4S)-4-[(1S)-1-hydroxyethyl]-pyrrolidin-1-yll-dodecanoic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7), (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-[(1S,4S)-4-[(1S)-1-hydroxyethyl]-pyrrolidin-1-yll-dodecanoic acid (8), (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-1(1R,4R,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-methyl-piperidin-1-yll-dodecanoic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (9), (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-[(1R,4R,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-methyl-piperidin-1-yll-dodecanoic acid (10), (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-[(1R,4R,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-hydroxymethyl-piperidin-1-yl]-dodecanoic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (11), and (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-[(1R,4S,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-methyl-piperidin-1-yl]-dodecanoic acid (12) on the basis of spectral and chemical data.     

Synthesis of (R)-2-methyl-4-deoxy and (R)-2-methyl-4,5-dideoxy analogues of 6-phosphogluconate as potential inhibitors of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase

The synthesis of (2R)-2-methyl-4,5-dideoxy and (2R)-2-methyl-4-deoxy analogues of 6-phosphogluconate is described. The synthetic strategy relies on the Evans aldol reaction for the installation of the chiral centres in the 2- and 3-positions. The selective phosphorylation at the primary alcohol function of (2R,3S)-3,6-dihydroxy-2-methylhexanoic acid benzyl ester (5) and (2R,3S,5S)-3,5,6-trihydroxy-2-methylhexanoic acid benzyl ester (20) was achieved with dibenzyl phosphochloridate and dibenzyl phosphoiodinate respectively, working at low temperature. (2R,3S)-3-Hydroxy-2-methyl-6-phosphonoxyhexanoic acid (9) was obtained in 25% overall yield from 4-benzyloxybutanol and (2R,3S,5S)-3,5-dihydroxy-2-methyl-6-phosphonoxyhexanoic acid (28) in 10% overall yield from L-malic acid.     

beta-Sulfinyl alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds from enantiomerically pure sulfenic acids.

The addition of enantiopure sulfenic acids to oxoalkynes constitutes a new and efficient methodology for the synthesis of beta-sulfinyl alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Sulfenic acids 3 and 4 were generated by thermolysis of suitable precursors and trapped in situ by oxoalkynes 5, affording (R(S),E)- and (S(S),E)-3-alkylsulfinyl-1-phenyl-2-propen-1-ones, 4-alkylsulfinyl-3-buten-2-ones, and 3-[(1S)-isoborneol-10-sulfinyl]-2-propenoates 6 and 7 in good yields and in enantiomerically pure form after simple column chromatography. (R(S),E)-3-[(1S)-isoborneol-10-sulfinyl]-1-phenyl-2-propen-1-one (6(R)a) was involved as a heterodiene in inverse-electron-demanding Diels-Alder reactions with readily available electron-rich dienophiles 14 and 15, corroborating in each case the sulfinyl auxiliary capability in controlling the stereochemical outcome of these cycloadditions. Furthermore, the addition of methylmagnesium iodide to the carbonyl moiety of 6(R)a demonstrated that the chiral sulfur atom exerts a remote stereocontrol in this reaction if assisted by the hydroxy group being part of the isoborneol substituent.     

Synthesis of screening substrates for the directed evolution of sialic acid aldolase: towards tailored enzymes for the preparation of influenza A sialidase inhibitor analogues

The stereoselective synthesis of two epimeric screening substrates, (4R, 5R, 6R)- and (4S, 5R, 6R)-6-dipropylcarbamoyl-2-oxo-4,5,6-trihydroxy-hexanoic acid, for the directed evolution of sialic acid aldolase is described. The complementary methods relied on stereoselective indium-mediated additions of ethyl alpha-bromomethyl acrylate to functionalised aldehydes. With an alpha-hydroxy aldehyde, (2R, 3R)-2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxo butanoic acid dipropylamide, the addition was chelation controlled, and the syn product, (6R, 5R, 4S)-6-dipropylcarbamoyl-2-methylidene-4,5,6-trihydroxy-hexanoic acid ethyl ester, was obtained. In contrast, the stereochemical outcome of the addition to (2R, 3R)-N,N-dipropyl-2,3-O-isopropylidene-4-oxobutyramide was consistent with Felkin-Anh control, and the anti adduct, (4R, 5R, 6R)-6-dipropylcarbamoyl-2-methylidene-4-hydroxy-5,6-O-isopropylidene-hexanoic acid ethyl ester, was the major product. Ozonolysis and deprotection gave the screening substrates as mixtures of furanose and pyranose forms, in good yields.     

A novel hydrazide type organocatalyst for enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions

The development of a new class of hydrazide type organocatalyst, (4R,5R)-1,3-bis(isopropylamino)-4,5-dihenylimidazolidin-2-one 2a, for enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions between cyclopentadiene and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes are presented. The new organocatalyst 2a promoted the reaction, affording Diels-Alder adducts in good yields with good levels of enantioselectivity.     

新型丙烯海松酸基双噻二唑化合物的合成及其抗真菌活性

松香与丙烯酸经Diels-Alder环加成反应制得丙烯海松酸(1); 将1转化为双酰氯后与2-氨基-5-取代苯基-1,3,4-噻二唑经-N-酰化反应合成了8个新型的丙烯海松酸基双噻二唑化合物(4a~4h),其结构经¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR和元素分析表征。抗真菌活性测试结果表明,在用药量为50 μg·mL^-1时,4d(R=m-Cl)对苹果轮纹病菌、花生褐斑病菌和小麦赤霉病菌的抑制率分别为66.9%, 57.8%和52.9%。     

Cooperative diastereoselectivity of palladium- and platinum-promoted intramolecular [4 + 2] Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions of 3,4-dimethyl-1-phenylphosphole

The complexes [(DMPP)2M(CH3CN2)]X2 (DMPP = 3,4-dimethyl-1-phenylphosphole; M = Pd, Pt; X = BF4-, NO3-, ClO4-) react with 2 equiv of the dienophiles N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA), 2-vinylpyridine (VyPy), and diphenylvinylphosphine (DPVP) to form bis-[4 + 2] Diels-Alder cycloaddition products. The [M(DMPP)2(DMAA)2]2+ and [M(DMPP)2(VyPy)2]2+ complexes form exclusively as the cis-geometric isomers, whereas for [M(DMPP)2(DPVP)2]2+, both cis- and trans-geometric isomers are formed. The two Diels-Alder cycloadditions occur sequentially, and the absolute configuration of the first reaction influences the absolute configuration of the second. In all cases, recemic mixtures of the (R,R) and (S,S) diastereomers are formed; none of the meso (R,S) diastereomer is observed. New complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, physical properties, infrared spectroscopy, 1H, 1H(31P), 13C(1H), and 31P(1H) NMR spectroscopy, and, in most cases, X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of the anti-Helicobacter pylori agent (+)-spirolaxine methyl ether and the unnatural (2"S)-diastereomer

The first enantioselective synthesis of the anti-Heliocbacter pylori agent (+)-spirolaxine methyl ether 2b has been carried out in a convergent fashion establishing that the absolute stereochemistry of the natural product is in fact (3R, 2"R, 5"R, 7"R) after initial synthesis of the unnatural (2"S)-diastereomer 2a. The key step in the synthesis of (+)-spirolaxine methyl ether 2b involved a heterocycle-activated Julia-Kocienski olefination between benzothiazole-based spiroacetal sulfone 4b and phthalide aldehyde 3a. (2"R, 5"S, 7"S)-Spiroacetal sulfone 4b was prepared via cyclisation of protected dihydroxyketone 6b, which in turn was derived from the coupling of the acetylide derived from (R)-acetylene 24b with aldehyde 3a. Phthalide aldehyde 3a was prepared via intramolecular acylation of bromocarbamate 15, which was available via titanium tetrafluoride-(+)-BINOL-mediated allylation of 3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde 13. Union of the sulfone 4b and aldehyde 3a fragments successfully completed the enantioselective synthesis of (+)-spirolaxine methyl ether 2b. The synthesis of the unnatural (3R, 2"S, 5"R, 7"R)-diastereomer of spirolaxine methyl ether 2a was also undertaken in a similar manner by union of phthalide aldehyde 3a with (2"S, 5"S, 7"S)-spiroacetal sulfone 4a derived from (S)-acetylene 24a.     

Design, synthesis, and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of (5R)- [and (5S)]-5,6-dihydro-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-oxazin-2-one N-oxides as chiral (E)-geometry-fixed alpha-alkoxycarbonylnitrones

Optically pure (5R)- [and (5S)]-5,6-dihydro-5-phenyl-2H-1, 4-oxazin-2-one N-oxides [(5R)- and (5S)-2] were designed as chiral (E)-geometry-fixed alpha-alkoxycarbonylnitrones 1. The nitrones (5R)- and (5S)-2 were synthesized by three-step oxidation of (R)- and (S)-phenylglycinols [(R)- and (S)-3], condensation of the resulting (R)- and (S)-2-hydroxylamino-2-phenylethanols [(R)- and (S)-5] with glyoxylic acid, and cyclization of the intermediary nitrones (R)- and (S)-6b. The nitrone (5R)-2reacted with olefins 7-14 under mild conditions to afford the corresponding cycloadducts 15-22 as the main products via the least sterically demanding exo modes. Cycloadduct 30 obtained from (5S)-2 and cyclopentadiene was effectively elaborated to (1S,4S, 5R)-4-benzyloxycarbonylamino-2-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-7-en-3-one (28), the key synthetic intermediate of carbocyclic polyoxin C.