Enantioselective Synthesis of (−)‐(19R)‐Ibogamin‐19‐ol

The first total synthesis of the natural product (?)‐(19R)‐ibogamin‐19‐ol ((?)‐ 1 ) is reported (biogenetic atom numbering). Starting with L ‐glutamic acid from the chiral pool and (2S)‐but‐3‐en‐2‐ol, the crucial aliphatic isoquinuclidine (= 2‐azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) core containing the entire configurational information of the final target was prepared in 15 steps (overall yield: 15%). The two key steps involved a highly effective, self‐immolating chirality transfer in an Ireland–Claisen rearrangement and an intramolecular nitrone‐olefin 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction (Scheme 3). Onto this aliphatic core was grafted the aromatic moiety in the form of N(1)‐protected 1H‐indole‐3‐acetic acid by application of the dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) method (Scheme 4). Four additional steps were required to adjust the substitution pattern at C(16) and to deprotect the indole subunit for the closure of the crucial 7‐membered ring present in the targeted alkaloid family (Schemes 4 and 5). The spectral and chiroptical properties of the final product (?)‐ 1 matched the ones reported for the naturally occurring alkaloid, which had been isolated from Tabernaemonatana quadrangularis in 1980. The overall yield of the entire synthesis involving a linear string of 20 steps amounted to 1.9% (average yield per step: 82%).     

Enantioselective Pd‐Catalyzed Allylic Alkylation Reactions of Dihydropyrido[1,2‐a]indolone Substrates: Efficient Syntheses of (−)‐Goniomitine, (+)‐Aspidospermidine,and (−)‐Quebrachamine

The successful application of dihydropyrido[1,2‐a]indolone (DHPI) substrates in Pd‐catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation chemistry facilitates rapid access to multiple alkaloid frameworks in an enantioselective fashion. Strategic bromination at the indole C3 position greatly improved the allylic alkylation chemistry and enabled a highly efficient Negishi cross‐coupling downstream. The first catalytic enantioselective total synthesis of (?)‐goniomitine, along with divergent formal syntheses of (+)‐aspidospermidine and (?)‐quebrachamine, are reported herein.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Crotylation of Aldehydes: Application in Total Synthesis of (−)‐Elisabethadione

A new, highly efficient Lewis base catalyst for a practical enantio‐ and diastereoselective crotylation of unsaturated aldehydes with E‐ and Z‐crotyltrichlorosilanes has been developed. The method was employed as a key step in a novel asymmetric synthesis of bioactive serrulatane diterpene (?)‐elisabethadione. Other strategic reactions for setting up the stereogenic centers included anionic oxy‐Cope rearrangement and cationic cyclization. The synthetic route relies on simple, high yielding reactions and avoids use of protecting groups or chiral auxiliaries.     

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Cascade Reactions of 7‐Vinylindoles: Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Synthesis of C7‐Functionalized Indoles

The first catalytic asymmetric cascade reaction of 7‐vinylindoles has been established by the rational design of such substrates. Cascade reactions with isatin‐derived 3‐indolylmethanols in the presence of a chiral phosphoric acid derivative allow the diastereo‐ and enantioselective synthesis of C7‐functionalized indoles as well as the construction of cyclopenta[b]indole and spirooxindole frameworks (all >95:5 d.r., 94–>99 % ee). This approach not only addresses the great challenge of the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of C7‐functionalized indoles, but also provides an efficient method for constructing biologically important cyclopenta[b]indole and spirooxindole scaffolds with excellent optical purity. Investigation of the reaction pathway and activation mode has suggested that this cascade reaction proceeds through a vinylogous Michael addition/Friedel–Crafts process, in which dual H‐bonding activation of the two reactants plays a crucial role.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of the cis‐ and trans‐3,4‐Dihydro‐2,4,8‐trihydroxynaphthalen‐1(2H)‐ones

A short and efficient protocol for the asymmetric synthesis of cis‐ and trans‐3,4‐dihydro‐2,4,8‐trihydroxynaphthalen‐1(2H)‐one ( 1 and 2 , resp.) is described, with a phthalide annulation as the key step. Introduction of a OH substituent at position 2 was performed by Sharpless dihydroxylation of a silyl enol ether or by means of an N‐sulfonyloxaziridine. The absolute configuration of each isomer was determined via Mosher‐ester derivatives. By comparison with previously recorded CD spectra of our natural sample, we established that the natural trans‐ and cis‐isomers from Ceratocystis fimbriata sp. platani were the (?)‐(2S,4S)‐isomer (?)‐ 2 and the (+)‐(2S,4R)‐isomer (+)‐ 1 , respectively.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (−)‐Maoecrystal V

The asymmetric total synthesis of (?)‐maoecrystal V, a novel cytotoxic pentacyclic ent‐kaurane diterpene, has been accomplished. Key steps of the current strategy involve an early‐stage semipinacol rearrangement reaction for the construction of the C10 quaternary stereocenter, a rhodium‐catalyzed intramolecular O?H insertion reaction, and a sequential Wessely oxidative dearomatization/intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction to forge the pentacyclic framework of maoecrystal V.     

Enantioselective Access to (−)‐Ambrox® Starting from β‐Farnesene

Starting from inexpensive (E)‐β‐farnesene ( 1 ), an eight‐step enantioselective synthesis of the olfactively precious Ambrox^® ((?)‐ 2a ) has been performed. The crucial step is the catalytic asymmetric isomerization of (2E,6E)‐N,N‐diethylfarnesylamine ( 3 ) to the corresponding enamine (?)‐(R,E)‐ 4a , applying Takasago's well‐known industrial methodology. The resulting dihydrofarnesal ((+)‐(R)‐ 5 ) (90% yield, 96% ee), obtained after in situ hydrolysis (AcOH, H₂O), was then cyclized under catalytic SnCl₄ conditions, via its corresponding unreported enol acetate (?)‐(R)‐ 4b , to afford trans‐decalenic aldehyde (+)‐ 6a . Subsequent transformations furnished bicyclic ketone (?)‐ 8a and unsaturated nitrile (+)‐ 11 , both reported as intermediates to access to (?)‐ 2a .     

Analogues of α‐Campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐Trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde) as Building Blocks for (+)‐β‐Necrodol (= (1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐Trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol) and Sandalwood‐like Alcohols

To complete our panorama in structure–activity relationships (SARs) of sandalwood‐like alcohols derived from analogues of α‐campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde), we isomerized the epoxy‐isopropyl‐apopinene (?)‐ 2d to the corresponding unreported α‐campholenal analogue (+)‐ 4d (Scheme 1). Derived from the known 3‐demethyl‐α‐campholenal (+)‐ 4a , we prepared the saturated analogue (+)‐ 5a by hydrogenation, while the heterocyclic aldehyde (+)‐ 5b was obtained via a Bayer‐Villiger reaction from the known methyl ketone (+)‐ 6 . Oxidative hydroboration of the known α‐campholenal acetal (?)‐ 8b allowed, after subsequent oxidation of alcohol (+)‐ 9b to ketone (+)‐ 10 , and appropriate alkyl Grignard reaction, access to the 3,4‐disubstituted analogues (+)‐ 4f,g following dehydration and deprotection. (Scheme 2). Epoxidation of either (+)‐ 4b or its methyl ketone (+)‐ 4h , afforded stereoselectively the trans‐epoxy derivatives 11a,b , while the minor cis‐stereoisomer (+)‐ 12a was isolated by chromatography (trans/cis of the epoxy moiety relative to the C₂ or C₃ side chain). Alternatively, the corresponding trans‐epoxy alcohol or acetate 13a,b was obtained either by reduction/esterification from trans‐epoxy aldehyde (+)‐ 11a or by stereoselective epoxidation of the α‐campholenol (+)‐ 15a or of its acetate (?)‐ 15b , respectively. Their cis‐analogues were prepared starting from (+)‐ 12a . Either (+)‐ 4h or (?)‐ 11b , was submitted to a Bayer‐Villiger oxidation to afford acetate (?)‐ 16a . Since isomerizations of (?)‐ 16 lead preferentially to β‐campholene isomers, we followed a known procedure for the isomerization of (?)‐epoxyverbenone (?)‐ 2e to the norcampholenal analogue (+)‐ 19a . Reduction and subsequent protection afforded the silyl ether (?)‐ 19c , which was stereoselectively hydroborated under oxidative condition to afford the secondary alcohol (+)‐ 20c . Further oxidation and epimerization furnished the trans‐ketone (?)‐ 17a , a known intermediate of either (+)‐β‐necrodol (= (+)‐(1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol; 17c ) or (+)‐(Z)‐lancifolol (= (1S,3R,4Z)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐(4‐methylpent‐3‐enylidene)cyclopentanemethanol). Finally, hydrogenation of (+)‐ 4b gave the saturated cis‐aldehyde (+)‐ 21 , readily reduced to its corresponding alcohol (+)‐ 22a . Similarly, hydrogenation of β‐campholenol (= 2,3,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐1‐ene‐1‐ethanol) gave access via the cis‐alcohol rac‐ 23a , to the cis‐aldehyde rac‐ 24 .     

Tandem Three‐Component Synthesis of syn‐1,2‐ and syn‐1,3‐Diol Derivatives

The development of efficient methods for stereocontrolled synthesis of polyol derivatives has been of continuing interest for the synthetic community. We describe herein tandem olefin cross‐metathesis/hemiacetalization/intramolecular oxa‐Michael addition of allylic/homoallylic alcohols, α,β‐unsaturated ketones, and aldehydes, which enabled the synthesis of syn‐1,2‐ and syn‐1,3‐diol derivatives in a step‐economical manner. A series of differentially protected polyol derivatives could be obtained in subsequent transformations via chemoselective/regioselective cleavage of the acetal moiety of the tandem reaction products.     

Concise Syntheses of bis‐Strychnos Alkaloids (−)‐Sungucine, (−)‐Isosungucine,and (−)‐Strychnogucine B from (−)‐Strychnine

The first chemical syntheses of complex, bis‐Strychnos alkaloids (?)‐sungucine ( 1 ), (?)‐isosungucine ( 2 ), and (?)‐strychnogucine B ( 3 ) from (?)‐strychnine ( 4 ) is reported. Key steps included (1) the Polonovski–Potier activation of strychnine N‐oxide; (2) a biomimetic Mannich coupling to forge the signature C23?C5′ bond that joins two monoterpene indole monomers; and (3) a sequential HBr/NaBH₃CN‐mediated reduction to fashion the ethylidene moieties in 1 – 3 . DFT calculations were employed to rationalize the regiochemical course of reactions involving strychnine congeners.     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Lundurine A and Determination of its Absolute Configuration

A 15‐step total synthesis of (?)‐lundurine A ( 1 ) from easily accessible (S)‐pyrrolidinone 18 is reported. A Simmons‐Smith reaction allows the efficient, simultaneous assembly of the cyclopropyl C ring, the six‐membered D ring, the seven‐membered E ring, and the quaternary carbon stereocenters at C2 and C7. The absolute configuration of natural (?)‐lundurine A was deduced to be 2R,7R,20R based on the stepwise construction of the stereocenters during the total synthesis.     

A Practical and Enantiospecific Synthesis of (−)‐(R)‐ and (+)‐(S)‐Piperidin‐3‐ols

A highly enantiospecific, azide‐free synthesis of (?)‐(R)‐ and (+)‐(S)‐piperidin‐3‐ol in excellent yield was developed. The key step of the synthesis involves the enantiospecific ring openings of enantiomerically pure (R)‐ and (S)‐2‐(oxiran‐2‐ylmethyl)‐1H‐isoindole‐1,3(2H)‐diones with the diethyl malonate anion and subsequent decarboxylation.     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Cleistenolide

An efficient and short total synthesis of (?)‐cleistenolide ( 1 ) from D ‐mannitol with an overall yield of 23.6% is described. The chiron approach for the synthesis of (?)‐cleistenolide involves a one‐C‐atom Wittig olefination, a selective allylic triethylsilyl protection, and a Grubbs‐catalyzed ring‐closure‐metathesis (RCM) reaction as the key steps.     

Total Synthesis of (2Z)‐[(4R,5R,6S)‐6‐(β‐D‐Glucopyranosyloxy)‐4,5‐dihydroxycyclohex‐2‐en‐1‐ylidene]ethanenitrile,a Cyanoglucoside from Ilex warburgii

The total synthesis of the noncyanogenic cyanoglucoside 1 , originally isolated from Ilex warburgii, was achieved in nine steps (9% overall yield), starting from an optically pure Diels–Alder adduct ((+)‐ 3 ). The key step of the synthesis, the glycosidation, was carried out under Koenigs–Knorr conditions closely related to those developed for the total syntheses of (?)‐lithospermoside and (?)‐bauhinin. We had to tune the protecting groups used for the two free cis‐configured OH groups of the aglycone, which afforded the desired β‐d‐ glucoside intermediate 15 in very good yield (62%).     

Diastereoselective Total Syntheses of (±)‐Caseabalansin A and (±)‐18‐Epicaseabalansin A via Intramolecular Robinson‐type Annulation

Highly diastereoselective total syntheses of (±)‐caseabalansin A ( 1 ) and (±)‐18‐epicaseabalansin A ( 2 ) are described in this paper. We revealed that the intramolecular Robinson‐type annulation of an alkynone was effective in the stereocontrolled construction of the bicyclic skeleton of 1 and 2 . Further transformation of the resulting enone, including diastereoselective reduction by LiAlH(OtBu)₃, hydroxy‐group‐directed hydrogenation, cyclization to form the cyclic acetal moiety, and introduction of a side chain by a C(sp³)?C(sp³) Stille coupling reaction, resulted in the total syntheses of (±)‐ 1 and (±)‐ 2 .     

Synthesis of the Anti‐HIV Agent (−)‐Hyperolactone C by Using Oxonium Ylide Formation–Rearrangement

Starting from readily available (S)‐styrene oxide an asymmetric synthesis is described of the naturally occurring anti‐HIV spirolactone (?)‐hyperolactone C, which possesses adjacent fully substituted stereocenters. The key step involves a stereocontrolled Rh^II‐catalysed oxonium ylide formation–[2,3] sigmatropic rearrangement of an α‐diazo‐β‐ketoester bearing allylic ether functionality. From the resulting furanone, an acid‐catalysed lactonisation and dehydrogenation gives the natural product.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of (−)‐(R)‐Cordiachromene and (−)‐(R)‐Dictyochromenol Utilizing Intramolecular SNAr Reaction

A simple and efficient enantioselective synthesis of chromene, (?)‐(R)‐cordiachromene ( 1 ), and (?)‐(R)‐dictyochromenol ( 2 ) has been accomplished. This convergent synthesis utilizes intramolecular S_NAr reaction for the formation of chroman ring, and Seebach's method of ‘self‐reproduction of chirality’ should establish the (R)‐configuration of the C(2) side chain as key steps.     

Preparation of C3‐Symmetric Homochiral syn‐Trisnorbornabenzenes through Regioselective Cyclotrimerization of Enantiopure Iodonorbornenes

C₃‐symmetric homochiral (?)‐syn‐trisoxonorbornabenzene 1 possessing a rigid cup‐shaped structure was synthesized through a novel regioselective cyclotrimerization of enantiopure iodonorbornenes catalyzed by palladium nanoclusters. The yield of the cyclotrimerization was dependent on the stability of the palladium clusters, which was ascertained from the appearance and TEM images of the reaction mixtures. The efficient preparation of (?)‐syn‐ 1 was established in short steps, including the newly developed cyclotrimerization reaction. The thus‐prepared homochiral (?)‐syn‐ 1 can serve as a key intermediate for the synthesis of C₃‐symmetric homochiral cup‐shaped molecules with a helical arrangement of substituents. Introduction of several types of substituents was well demonstrated through palladium‐catalyzed coupling reactions with the corresponding phosphate and triflate of (?)‐syn‐ 1 .     

Transformations of Methyl 2‐[(E)‐2‐(Dimethylamino)‐1‐(methoxycarbonyl)ethenyl]‐1‐methyl‐1H‐indole‐3‐carboxylate

A simple and efficient synthesis of novel 2‐heteroaryl‐substituted 1H‐indole‐2‐carboxylates and γ‐carbolines, compounds 1 – 3 , from methyl 2‐(2‐methoxy‐2‐oxoethyl)‐1‐methyl‐1H‐indole‐3‐carboxylate ( 4 ) by the enaminone methodology is presented.     

Metabolism of Deuterated Isomeric 6,7‐Dihydroxydodecanoic Acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae – Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Formation and Characterization of 5‐Hydroxydecano‐4‐lactone (=4,5‐Dihydro‐5‐(1‐hydroxyhexyl)furan‐2(3H)‐one) Isomers

The chemical synthesis of deuterated isomeric 6,7‐dihydroxydodecanoic acid methyl esters 1 and the subsequent metabolism of esters 1 and the corresponding acids 1a in liquid cultures of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. Incubation experiments with (6R,7R)‐ or (6S,7S)‐6,7‐dihydroxy(6,7‐²H₂)dodecanoic acid methyl ester ((6R,7R)‐ or (6S,7S)‐(6,7‐²H₂)‐ 1 , resp.) and (±)‐threo‐ or (±)‐erythro‐6,7‐dihydroxy(6,7‐²H₂)dodecanoic acid ((±)‐threo‐ or (±)‐erythro‐(6,7‐²H₂)‐ 1a , resp.) elucidated their metabolic pathway in yeast (Tables 1–3). The main products were isomeric ²H‐labeled 5‐hydroxydecano‐4‐lactones 2 . The absolute configuration of the four isomeric lactones 2 was assigned by chemical synthesis via Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and chiral gas chromatography (Lipodex ^® E). The enantiomers of threo‐ 2 were separated without derivatization on Lipodex ^® E; in contrast, the enantiomers of erythro‐ 2 could be separated only after transformation to their 5‐O‐(trifluoroacetyl) derivatives. Biotransformation of the methyl ester (6R,7R)‐(6,7‐²H₂)‐ 1 led to (4R,5R)‐ and (4S,5R)‐(2,5‐²H₂)‐ 2 (ratio ca. 4 : 1; Table 2). Estimation of the label content and position of (4S,5R)‐(2,5‐²H₂)‐ 2 showed 95% label at C(5), 68% label at C(2), and no ²H at C(4) (Table 2). Therefore, oxidation and subsequent reduction with inversion at C(4) of 4,5‐dihydroxydecanoic acid and transfer of ²H from C(4) to C(2) is postulated. The 5‐hydroxydecano‐4‐lactones 2 are of biochemical importance: during the fermentation of Streptomyces griseus, (4S,5R)‐ 2 , known as L‐factor, occurs temporarily before the antibiotic production, and (?)‐muricatacin (=(4R,5R)‐5‐hydroxy‐heptadecano‐4‐lactone), a homologue of (4R,5R)‐ 2 , is an anticancer agent.