General route to 4a-methylhydrofluorene diterpenoids: total syntheses of (+/-)-taiwaniaquinones d and h, (+/-)-taiwaniaquinol B, (+/-)-dichroanal B, and (+/-)-dichroanone

A general and convergent route for the synthesis of the 4a-methylhydrofluorene diterpenoids has been established through a common hexahydrofluorenone intermediate (10) obtained via Pd(0)-catalyzed reductive cyclization of a substituted 2-(2-bromobenzyl) methylene cyclohexane (13). The strategy has been successfully utilized for the synthesis of (+/-)-taiwaniaquinones D (3) and H (5), (+/-)-taiwaniaquinol B (1), (+/-)-dichroanal B (7), and (+/-)-dichroanone (8).     

Formal syntheses of (+/-)-pinnaic acid and (+/-)-halichlorine

[chemical reaction: see text]. Concise formal syntheses of marine alkaloids (+/-)-pinnaic acid (1) and (+/-)-halichlorine (2) have been accomplished from a common intermediate. The syntheses illustrate the utility of selective olefin cross metathesis methodologies for the elaboration of advanced synthetic intermediates in complex molecule synthesis.     

Total syntheses of (+/-)-montanin A and (+/-)-teuscorolide

The first total syntheses of (+/-)-montanin A and (+/-)-teuscorolide have been achieved from an advanced precursor previously developed via a Diels-Alder strategy; in the synthetic sequence, the synthesis of montanin A was first accomplished in 8 steps, from which teuscorolide was readily achieved in 2 steps by using a novel furan oxidative cyclization-retro-cyclization process as a key operation.     

A formal total synthesis of the sesterterpenoid (+/-)-dysidiolide and approaches to the syntheses of (+/-)-6-epi-, (+/-)-15-epi-, and (+/-)-6,15-bisepidysidiolide

A formal total synthesis of the sesterterpenoid (+/-)-dysidiolide (1), a structurally novel sponge metabolite that inhibits the cdc25A protein phosphatase, and approaches to the syntheses of (+/-)-15-epi- (34), (+/-)-6-epi- (36), and (+/-)-6, 15-bisepidysidiolide (39) are described.     

Biomimetic synthesis of (+/-)-pinnatal and (+/-)-sterekunthal A

Concise biomimetic syntheses of the antimalarial naphthoquinones (+/-)-pinnatal and (+/-)-sterekunthal A are described.     

Acid-catalyzed cyclization of 2,3-dibenzylidenesuccinates: synthesis of lignans (+/-)-cagayanin and (+/-)-galbulin.

Acid-catalyzed cyclizations of E,E-dibenzylidenesuccinate esters have been developed as an efficient synthetic route to 1-aryl-1,2-dihydronaphthalenes. This reaction has been used in the synthesis of the naturally occurring lignans (+/-)-cagayanin and (+/-)-galbulin.     

Direct enantiomeric resolution of (+/-)-atenolol, (+/-)-metoprolol,and (+/-)-propranolol by impregnated TLC using L-aspartic acid as chiral selector

Resolution of three commonly used beta-blockers, (+/-)-atenolol, (+/-)-metoprolol and (+/-)-propranolol, into their enantiomers has been achieved using normal-phase TLC on silica gel plates impregnated with L-aspartic acid as the chiral selector. Different combinations of acetonitrile-methanol-water as mobile phase were found to be successful in resolving the enantiomers. The spots were detected with iodine and the detection limits were found to be 0.26 microg for atenolol and 0.23 microg for each of metoprolol and propranolol as racemate.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-flustramines A and C, (+/-)-flustramide A, and (-)- and (+)-debromoflustramines A

Here we describe the efficient total synthesis of the three title hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole alkaloids and debromo derivative from readily available indolin-3-ones using key domino reactions, olefination-isomerization-Claisen rearrangement (OIC), and reductive cyclization (RC). (+/-)-Flustramine C (5) was synthesized in five steps from 6-bromoindolin-3-one 9 via a key intermediate 13a. (+/-)-Flustramine A (1) has been obtained by reduction of flustramide A (6), which has been prepared in five steps from 13a. (+/-)-Debromoflustramine A (19) was provided in a similar manner from 13b. The (-)- and (+)-enantiomers of 19 were synthesized through optical resolution of (+/-)-carboxylic acid 17b using (R)-4-phenyloxazolidin-2-one.     

Stereoselective syntheses of (+/-)-komaroviquinone and (+/-)-faveline methyl ether through intramolecular Heck reaction

[reaction: see text] An efficient, flexible, and stereoselective convergent route for constructing the trans-10-hydroxy-1,1-dimethyloctahydrodibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-7-ones (5a-c) was achieved via intramolecular Heck reaction. This strategy has been successfully implemented for the syntheses of (+/-)-komaroviquinone (3) through (+/-)-coulterone dimethyl ether (5c) and (+/-)-faveline methyl ether (1a).     

First total synthesis of the 4a-methyltetrahydrofluorene diterpenoids (+/-)-dichroanal B and (+/-)-dichroanone

[reaction: see text] A simple synthesis of the 4a-methyltetrahydrofluorene diterpenoids (+/-)-dichroanal B and (+/-)-dichroanone has been achieved through a common hexahydrofluorenone intermediate obtained via Pd(0)-catalyzed reductive cyclization of a substituted 2-(2-bromobenzyl) methylene cyclohexane.     

An aza-Achmatowicz approach toward the hydroxylated piperidine alkaloids (+/-)-azimic acid and (+/-)-deoxocassine

[reaction: see text] The synthesis of several cis-2,3,6-trisubstituted piperidines has been developed employing the aza-Achmatowicz oxidation as the key reaction step. Its usage is illustrated by the facile synthesis of the piperidin-3-ol alkaloids (+/-)-deoxocassine and (+/-)-azimic acid.     

A formal total synthesis of (+/-)-halichlorine and (+/-)-pinnaic acid

[reaction: see text] A stereocontrolled approach for the preparation of the Danishefsky intermediates has been developed starting with the azaspirobicyclic ketone as a common precursor, representing a formal total synthesis of (+/-)-halichlorine and (+/-)-pinnaic acid. This approach involves the construction of the 1,7-disubstituted 6-azaspiro[4.5]decane with the proper stereochemistry established by olefin hydrogenation followed by C-methylation of the spirotricyclic lactam and the subsequent processes involving lactam ring-opening using methyl triflate and RCM to form the azaspirotricyclic quinolizidine skeleton.     

Remarkable control of radical cyclization processes of cyclic enyne: total syntheses of (+/-)-methyl gummiferolate, (+/-)-methyl 7beta-hydroxykaurenoate, and (+/-)-methyl 7-oxokaurenoate and formal synthesis of (+/-)-gibberellin a(12) from a common synthetic precursor.

Total syntheses of (+/-)-methyl gummiferolate (13b), (+/-)-methyl 7beta-hydroxykaurenoate (14b), and (+/-)-methyl 7-oxokaurenoate (14d) and a formal synthesis of (+/-)-gibberellin A(12) (15) have been accomplished through the common synthetic precursor, (3aR,7aR)-3,3-dimethyl-7a-(2-propynyl)-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydroisobenzofuranone (16). The homoallyl-homoallyl radical rearrangement reaction of the monocyclic enyne 25, derived from 16 in two steps, afforded the bicyclo[2.2.2]octane compound 26, which was converted to (+/-)-methyl gummiferolate (13b). In contrast, the radical cyclization of the bicyclic enyne 16 gave the tricyclic lactone 19, leading to (+/-)-methyl 7beta-hydroxykaurenoate (14b) and (+/-)-methyl 7-oxokaurenoate (14d). Transformation of 14d into lactone 20 was carried out in a single step under bromination conditions. This constitutes a formal total synthesis of gibberellin A(12) (15).     

Syntheses of the Stemona alkaloids (+/-)-stenine, (+/-)-neostenine, and (+/-)-13-epineostenine using a stereodivergent Diels-Alder/azido-Schmidt reaction

A tandem Diels-Alder/azido-Schmidt reaction sequence provides rapid access to the core skeleton shared by several Stemona alkaloids including stenine, neostenine, tuberostemonine, and neotuberostemonine. The discovery and evolution of inter- and intramolecular variations of this process and their applications to total syntheses of (+/-)-stenine and (+/-)-neostenine are described. The stereochemical outcome of the reaction depends on both substrate type and reaction conditions, enabling the preparation of both (+/-)-stenine and (+/-)-neostenine from the same diene/dienophile combination.     

General and efficient strategy for erythrinan and homoerythrinan alkaloids: syntheses of (+/-)-3-demethoxyerythratidinone and (+/-)-erysotramidine

[reaction: see text] A general and efficient strategy to both aromatic-type and nonaromatic-type erythrinan and homoerythrinan alkaloids has been developed. This approach involves a key two-step sequence, an alkylation of a ketone with various N-substituted iodoacetamides followed by a N-acyliminium ion promoted intramolecular cyclization, and represents one of the shortest routes to erythrinan and homoerythrinan alkaloids. As the application, the formal total synthesis of (+/-)-3-demethoxyerythratidinone and the total synthesis of (+/-)-erysotramidine have been achieved, respectively.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of polyfunctionalized cis-decalins from 2-methoxyphenols: total syntheses of (+/-)-eremopetasidione, (+/-)-3 beta-angeloyloxyfuranoeremophilane, and (+/-)-3 beta-methacryloyloxyfuranoeremophilane

A four-step stereocontrolled synthesis of polyfunctionalized cis-decalins is described, involving oxidation of 2-methoxyphenol, intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction, olefination, and Cope rearrangement. Application of this efficient strategy to the total syntheses of (+/-)-eremopetasidione, (+/-)-3 beta-angeloyloxyfuranoeremophilane, and (+/-)-3 beta-methacryloyloxyfuranoeremophilane was accomplished from creosol and ethyl vinyl ketone via a common intermediate 21.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-didehydrostemofoline (asparagamine A) and (+/-)-isodidehydrostemofoline

The first total syntheses of (+/-)-didehydrostemofoline (1) and (+/-)-isodidehydrostemofoline (3) are reported. The synthesis begins with the Diels-Alder reaction of readily available pyrrole 9 and ethyl (E)-3-nitroacrylate, the latter serving as a regioinverted equivalent of ketene. After hydrogenation to prevent retro-Diels-Alder reaction, the major cycloadduct is transformed to 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanol 14. Aza-Cope-Mannich reaction of the formaldiminium derivative of 14 delivers 1-azatricyclo[5.3.0.04.10]decane 15, which in 15 additional steps is converted to 1 and 3.     

Dimerization of butenolide structures. A biomimetic approach to the dimeric sesquiterpene lactones (+/-)-biatractylolide and (+/-)-biepiasterolide

The biomimetic synthesis of the bisesquiterpene lactones (+/-)-biatractylolide 1 and (+/-)-biepiasterolide 2 via dimerization of the captodative stabilized radical 8 is reported. Atractylon 7 has also been shown to be a possible intermediate during the biosynthesis of biatractylolide 1, biepiasterolide 2, atractylolide 3, and hydroxyatractylolide 4.     

Total syntheses of (+/-)-crinine, (+/-)-crinamine, and (+/-)-6a-epi-crinamine via the regioselective synthesis and Diels-Alder reaction of 3-aryl-5-bromo-2-pyrone

We have devised a new unified synthetic protocol to (+/-)-crinine, (+/-)-crinamine, and (+/-)-6a- epi-crinamine from the Diels-Alder cycloadduct of 3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-5-bromo-2-pyrone with TBS vinyl ether. The requisite 3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-5-bromo-2-pyrone was prepared from the C3-selective Stille coupling reaction of 3,5-dibromo-2-pyrone. Also noted is that the vinyl bromide can be used as a handle for further derivatization.     

Concise stereocontrolled formal synthesis of (+/-)-quinine and total synthesis of (+/-)-7- hydroxyquinine via merged Morita-Baylis-Hillman-Tsuji-Trost cyclization

Concise stereoselective syntheses of (+/-)-quinine and (+/-)-7-hydroxyquinine are achieved using a catalytic enone cycloallylation that combines the nucleophilic features of the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction and the electrophilic features of the Tsuji-Trost reaction. Cyclization of enone-allyl carbonate 11 delivers the product of cycloallylation 13 in 68% yield. Diastereoselective conjugate reduction of the enone 13 (>20:1 dr) followed by exchange of the N-protecting group provides the saturated N-Boc-protected methyl ketone 19, which upon aldol dehydration provides quinoline containing enone 15, possessing all carbon atoms of quinine. Exposure of ketone 15 to L-selectride enables diastereoselective carbonyl reduction (>20:1 dr) to furnish the allylic alcohol 16. Stereoselective hydroxyl-directed epoxidation using an oxovanadium catalyst modified by N-hydroxy-N-Me-pivalamide delivers epoxide 17 (17:1 dr). Cyclization of the resulting amine-epoxide 17 provides (+/-)-7-hydroxyquinine in 13 steps and 11% overall yield from aminoacetaldehyde diethyl acetal. Notably, highly stereoselective formation of five contiguous stereocenters is achieved through a series of 1,2-asymmetric induction events. Deoxygenation of the N-Cbz-protected allylic acetate 22 provides olefin 23, which previously has been converted to quinine. Thus, (+/-)-quinine is accessible in 16 steps and 4% overall yield from commercial aminoacetaldehyde diethyl acetal.