Synthetic study of azaspiracid-1: synthesis of the EFGHI-ring fragment

Here, we report a synthesis of the lower half C21-C40 fragment of the shellfish toxin, azaspiracid-1. The C28-C40 fragment was synthesized by a coupling between the C28-C35 epoxide and the C36-C40 dithioacetal anion, followed by the HI-ring spiroaminal formation. An aldehyde corresponding to the C28-C40 fragment was then coupled with the C21-C27 allylic stannane by using InCl3. Finally, the FG-ring was constructed by HF.pyridine to accomplish the synthesis of the suitably protected C21-C40 fragment.     

The stereocontrolled total synthesis of spirastrellolide A methyl ester. Expedient construction of the key fragments

Due to a combination of their promising anticancer properties, limited supply from the marine sponge source and their unprecedented molecular architecture, spirastrellolides represent attractive and challenging synthetic targets. A modular strategy for the synthesis of spirastrellolide A methyl ester, which allowed for the initial stereochemical uncertainties in the assigned structure was adopted, based on the envisaged sequential coupling of a series of suitably functionalised fragments; in this first paper, full details of the synthesis of these fragments are described. The pivotal C26-C40 DEF bis-spiroacetal was assembled by a double Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation/acetalisation cascade process on a linear diene intermediate, configuring the C31 and C35 acetal centres under suitably mild acidic conditions. A C1-C16 alkyne fragment was constructed by application of an oxy-Michael reaction to introduce the A-ring tetrahydropyran, a Sakurai allylation to install the C9 hydroxyl, and a 1,4-syn boron aldol/directed reduction sequence to establish the C11 and C13 stereocentres. Two different coupling strategies were investigated to elaborate the C26-C40 DEF fragment, involving either a C17-C25 sulfone or a C17-C24 vinyl iodide, each of which was prepared using an Evans glycolate aldol reaction. The remaining C43-C47 vinyl stannane fragment required for introduction of the unsaturated side chain was prepared from (R)-malic acid.     

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.     

Total synthesis of rutamycin B and oligomycin C

The asymmetric synthesis of the macrolide antibiotics (+)-rutamycin B (1) and (+)-oligomycin C (2) is described. The approach relied on the synthesis and coupling of the individual spiroketal fragments 3a and 3b with the C1-C17 polyproprionate fragment 4. The preparation of the spiroketal fragments was achieved using chiral (E)-crotylsilane bond construction methodology, which allowed the introduction of the stereogenic centers prior to spiroketalization. The present work details the synthesis of the C19-C28 and C29-C34 subunits as well as their convergent assembly through an alkylation reaction of the lithiated N,N-dimethylhydrazones 6 and 8 to afford the individual linear spiroketal intermediates 5a and 5b, respectively. After functional group adjustment, these advanced intermediates were cyclized to their respective spiroketal-coupling partners 40 and 41. The requisite polypropionate fragment was assembled in a convergent manner using asymmetric crotylation methodology for the introduction of six of the nine-stereogenic centers. The use of three consecutive crotylation reactions was used for the construction of the C3-C12 subunit 32. A Mukaiyama-type aldol reaction of 35 with the chiral alpha-methyl aldehyde 39 was used for the introduction of the C12-C13 stereocenters. This anti aldol finished the construction of the C3-C17 advanced intermediate 36. A two-carbon homologation completed the construction of the polypropionate fragment 38. The completion of the synthesis of the two macrolide antibiotics was accomplished by the union of two principal fragments that was achieved with an intermolecular palladium-(0) catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between the terminal vinylstannanes of the individual spiroketals 3a and 3b and the polypropionate fragment 4. The individual carboxylic acids 46 and 47 were cyclized to their respective macrocyclic lactones 48 and 49 under Yamaguchi reaction conditions. Deprotection of these macrolides completed the synthesis of the rutamycin B and oligomycin C.     

Synthesis of C13-C25 fragment of 24-demethylbafilomycin C(1) via diastereoselective aldol reactions of a ketone boron enolate as the key step

An efficient synthesis of the C13-C25 fragment is described for 24-demethylbafilomycin C1, a new member of the plecomacrolide family isolated from fermentation broth of Streptomyces sp. CS which is a commensal microbe of Maytenus hookeri. The targeted C13-C25 fragment possesses five oxygenated and three methyl-substituted stereogenic centers. It is obtained through formation of the C17-C18 syn aldol by using an ethyl ketone boron enolate with diastereomeric ratios of 95:5 and 83:17, respectively, for the chiral aldehydes substituted with acetoxy and methoxyacetoxy groups at C15. The results confirm the observation that the stereochemistry at C22 of the ketone is determinant to the diastereoselectivity of the aldol reaction. The synthesized C13-C25 fragment having a methoxyacetoxy group at C15 is considered as a useful precursor for construction of the 16-membered ring lactone of 24-demethylbafilomycin C1 through an aldol condensation of the methoxyacetate followed by formation of the C12-C13 double bond via a diene-ene RCM reaction.     

Studies directed toward the synthesis of rhizopodin: stereoselective synthesis of the C1-C15 fragment

A stereoselective synthesis of the C1-C15 fragment of a G-actin binding natural macrodiolide, rhizopodin was achieved using, as key steps, highly stereoselective acetate aldol reactions to build the C1-C7 fragment, one pot oxazole synthesis and an asymmetric Keck allylation reaction to build the C8-C15 fragment and finally, a Stille reaction to couple both the fragments.     

The stereocontrolled total synthesis of spirastrellolide A methyl ester. Fragment coupling studies and completion of the synthesis

The spirastrellolides are a novel family of structurally unprecedented marine macrolides which show promising anticancer properties due to their potent inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A. In the preceding paper, a modular strategy for the synthesis of spirastellolide A methyl ester which allowed for the initial stereochemical uncertainties was outlined, together with the synthesis of a series of suitably functionalised fragments. In this paper, the realisation of this synthesis is described. Two alternative coupling strategies were explored for elaborating the C26-C40 DEF bis-spiroacetal fragment: a modified Julia olefination of a C26 aldehyde with a C17-C25 sulfone, and a Suzuki coupling of a C25 trialkylborane with a C17-C24 vinyl iodide, which also required the development of a double hydroboration reaction to install the C23/C24 stereocentres. The latter proved a significantly superior strategy, and was fully optimised to provide a C17 aldehyde which was coupled with a C1-C16 alkyne fragment to afford the C1-C40 carbon framework. The BC spiroacetal was then installed within this advanced intermediate by oxidative cleavage of two PMB ethers with spontaneous spiroacetalisation, which also led to unanticipated deprotection of the C23 TES ether. The ensuing truncated seco-acid was cyclised in high yield to construct the 38-membered macrolactone under Yamaguchi macrolactonisation conditions, suggesting favourable conformational pre-organisation. Exhaustive desilylation provided a crystalline macrocyclic pentaol, revealing much about the likely conformation of the macrolactone in solution. Attachment of the remainder of the side chain proved challenging, potentially due to steric hindrance by this macrocycle; an olefin cross-metathesis to install an electrophilic allylic carbonate and subsequent π-allyl Stille coupling with a C43-C47 stannane achieved this goal. Global deprotection completed the first total synthesis of (+)-spirastrellolide A methyl ester which, following detailed NMR correlation with an authentic sample, validated the full configurational assignment. A series of simplified analogues of spirastrellolide incorporating the C26-C47 region were also prepared by π-allyl Stille coupling reactions.     

Highly demanding cross-metathesis in the synthesis of the C16-C30 fragment of dolabelide C

A highly demanding cross-metathesis (CM) reaction for the formation of the C24-C25 trisubstituted olefin of dolabelide C has been optimized. A difference in reactivity between the E and Z enone isomers in this reaction was uncovered, and the selection of the Z isomer of the starting enone was critical for the success of the cross-metathesis. Application to the synthesis of the C16-C30 fragment of dolabelide C is reported.     

Total synthesis of epothilones B and D: stannane equivalents for beta-keto ester dianions

Studies leading to a total synthesis of epothilones B and D are described. The overall synthetic plan was based on late-stage fragment assembly of two segments representing C(1)-C(9) and C(10)-C(21) of the structure. The C(1)-C(9) fragment was prepared by elaboration of commercially available (2R)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoate at both ends of the three-carbon unit. Introduction of carbons 1-4 containing the gem-dimethyl unit was achieved in a convergent manner using a diastereoselective addition of a stannane equivalent of a beta-keto ester dianion. An enantioselective addition of such a stannane equivalent for a beta-keto ester dianion was also used to fashion one version of the C(10)-C(21) subunit; however, the fragment assembly (using bimolecular esterification followed by ring-closing metathesis) with this subunit failed. Therefore, fragment assembly was achieved using a Wittig reaction; this was followed by macrolactonization to close the macrocycle. The C(10)-C(21) subunit needed for this approach was prepared in an efficient manner using the Corey-Kim reaction as a key element. Other key reactions in the synthesis include a stereoselective SmI(2) reduction of a beta-hydroxy ketone and a critical opening of a valerolactone with aniline which required extensive investigation.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of spongistatins 1 and 2

The total synthesis of spongistatin 1 (1) and spongistatin 2 (2) has been achieved through an advanced-stage intermediate. The synthesis is highlighted by a highly convergent assembly of the four key fragments (the C1-C15 AB fragment 2, the C16-C28 CD fragment 3, the C29-C43 EF fragment 4, and the C44-C51 side chain 5) at a very advanced stage of the synthesis with minimal functional group interconversion. The CD fragment 3 functions as the central building block to which the other fragments are attached. The synthesis of the AB and CD spiroketal fragments is accomplished through the addition of a metalated gamma-pyrone to a beta-alkoxy aldehyde followed by spiroketalization. The EF subunit was assembled with high diastereoselectivity relying on asymmetric aldol reactions of chlorotitanium enolates of N-propionyl oxazolidinethiones and a double diastereoselective boron aldol to join the E and F fragments. Wittig coupling of the CD and EF fragments followed by a diastereoselective aldol reaction between the CDEF ketone and an AB aldehyde set the stage for attachment of the C44-C51 side chains and final macrolactonization and deprotection.     

Synthesis of amphidinolide E C10-C26 fragment

The key C10-C26 fragment in a total synthesis of (-)-amphidinolide E has been prepared from an oxolane-containing C10-C17 segment (9, derived from L-glutamic acid) via a Julia-Kocienski reaction with aldehyde 3, followed by a Sharpless AD to obtain the desired diol. The C22-C26 fragment was installed by means of an efficient Suzuki-Molander coupling, with an organotrifluoroborate reagent (4, arising from a cross-metathesis reaction between a vinylboronate and 2-methyl-1,4-pentadiene).     

Formal synthesis of (+)-sorangicin A

The formal synthesis of (+)-sorangicin A was completed by two independent routes. Both approaches feature a cross metathesis reaction to form the C29-C30 bond to arrive at the bicyclic ether/tetrahydropyran fragment. Formation of the C15-C16 olefin to unite the dihydropyran fragment with the rest of the molecule was achieved by either a cross metathesis reaction or a Julia-Kocienski olefination.     

A practical synthesis of (+)-discodermolide and analogues: fragment union by complex aldol reactions

A practical stereocontrolled synthesis of (+)-discodermolide (1) has been completed in 10.3% overall yield (23 steps longest linear sequence). The absolute stereochemistry of the C(1)-C(6) (7), C(9)-C(16) (8), and C(17)-C(24) (9) subunits was established via substrate-controlled, boron-mediated, aldol reactions of the chiral ethyl ketones 10, 11, and 12. Key fragment coupling reactions were a lithium-mediated, anti-selective, aldol reaction of aryl ester 8 (under Felkin-Anh induction from the aldehyde component 9), followed by in situ reduction to produce the 1,3-diol 40, and a (+)-diisopinocampheylboron chloride-mediated aldol reaction of methyl ketone 7 (overturning the inherent substrate induction from the aldehyde component 52) to give the (7S)-adduct 58. The flexibility of our overall strategy is illustrated by the synthesis of a number of diastereomers and structural analogues of discodermolide, which should serve as valuable probes for structure-activity studies.     

Total synthesis and structural elucidation of azaspiracid-1. Final assignment and total synthesis of the correct structure of azaspiracid-1

The molecular structure of azaspiracid-1, a neurotoxin isolated from mussels, has been elucidated by total synthesis which also enriched its supplies. The degradatively derived fragments of this marine biotoxin, compounds 5 (EFGHI), 6 (FGHI), and 40 (ABCD), were matched with synthetic materials, thus confirming their structural identities. Based on this detective work, a new structure of azaspiracid-1 (i.e., 1) was proposed and constructed by total synthesis. The final strategy for the total synthesis of azaspiracid-1 featured a dithiane anion (C(21)-C(27) fragment) reacting with a pentafluorophenol ester (C(1)-C(20) fragment) followed by a Stille-type union of an advanced allylic acetate substrate (C(1)-C(27) fragment) with a vinyl stannane as the main coupling processes to assemble the carbon skeleton of the molecule. In addition to the total synthesis of azaspiracid-1 (1), the syntheses of its C(1)-C(20) epimer (2) and of several truncated analogues for biological investigations are described.     

Studies directed towards the synthesis of antascomicin A: stereoselective synthesis of the C1-C21 fragment of the molecule

A stereoselective synthesis of the C1-C21 fragment of the non-immunosuppressive immunophilin-binding natural product, antascomicin A was achieved using, as key steps, highly stereoselective Aldol reactions to build the C1-C17 fragment and a Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi reaction to couple it with the remaining C18-C21 moiety.     

Total syntheses of bryostatins: synthesis of two ring-expanded bryostatin analogues and the development of a new-generation strategy to access the C7-C27 fragment

Herein, we report the synthesis of novel ring-expanded bryostatin analogues. By carefully modifying the substrate, a selective and high-yielding Ru-catalyzed tandem enyne coupling/Michael addition was employed to construct the northern fragment. Ring-closing metathesis was utilized to form the 31-membered ring macrocycle of the analogue. These ring-expanded bryostatin analogues possess anticancer activity against several cancer cell lines. Given the difficulty in forming the C16-C17 olefin at a late stage, we also describe our development of a new-generation strategy to access the C7-C27 fragment, containing both the ring B and C subunits.     

Total synthesis of cruentaren B

A convergent total synthesis of the cytotoxic natural product cruentaren B is completed in 26 steps (longest linear sequence) with an overall yield of 7.1%. For the construction of the C1-C11 benzolactone fragment of the molecule, the key steps used were O-methylation, using a Mitsunobu reaction, a Stille coupling method to construct the C7-C8 bond, and a Brown's asymmetric crotylboration reaction for the direct enantioselective installation of the two chiral centers present in this fragment. For diastereoselective installation of the chiral centers in the C12-C20 polyketide fragment, an Evans syn aldol reaction on a chiral aldehyde, derived from methyl (R)-3-hydroxyl-2-methylpropionate, and subsequently a Mukaiyama aldol reaction were employed. For the construction of the C21-C28 tail, a "non-Evans" syn aldol reaction was used. The three fragments were coupled by an SN2 reaction and a Wittig olefination reaction followed by standard functional group manipulations to furnish the target molecule.     

Synthesis of the C(18)-C(34) fragment of amphidinolide C and the C(18)-C(29) fragment of amphidinolide F

A convergent synthesis of the C(18)-C(34) fragment of amphidinolide C and the C(18)-C(29) fragment of amphidinolide F is reported. The approach involves the synthesis of the common intermediate tetrahydrofuranyl-β-ketophosphonate via cross metathesis, Pd(0)-catalyzed cyclization, and hydroboration-oxidation. The β-ketophosphonate was coupled to three side chain aldehydes using a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) olefination reaction to give dienones, which were reduced with l-selectride to give the fragments of amphidinolide C and F.     

Efficient synthesis of the C(1)-C(9) fragment of amphidinolides C, C2, and F

The synthesis of the C(1)-C(9) fragment of amphidinolides C, C2, and F was achieved by using a vinyloguous Mukaiyama aldol reaction on a chiral aldehyde with a silyloxyfuran and by using a C-glycosylation of a lactol derivative with an acetyl oxazolidinethione. From the available chiral acetonide-glyceraldehyde, all the stereogenic centers were perfectly induced along the synthesis. The C(1)-C(9) fragment was synthesized as a vinyl stannane at C(9) in 10 steps, with 16% yield.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-amphidinolide t1

An enantioselective first total syntheis of amphidinolide T1 (1) is described. Amphidinolide T1 (1), a 19-membered macrolide isolated from Amphidinium sp., has shown potent antitumor properties against a variety of NCI tumor cell lines. The synthesis is convergent and involves the assembly of C1-C10 segment 2 and C11-C21 segment 3 by an oxocarbenium ion-mediated alkylation and Yamaguchi macrolactonization sequence. The synthesis of fragment 2 involves an efficient cross metathesis and hydrogenation sequence between the terminal olefins of 5 and 6 to form the C4-C5 carbon-carbon bond. Enol ether 4 is designed to be the surrogate of fragment 3 where the sensitive C16-exo-methylene and the C13-hydroxyl group were protected as the bromoether derivative during the Lewis acid-catalyzed alkylation process. Both stereocenters in fragment 5 as well as the C2 and C3 stereocenters in fragment 4 are accessed by a highly diastereoselective ester-derived titanium enolate-mediated syn-aldol reaction. The bromoether derivative 24 was unraveled at the final stage of the synthesis, providing (+)-amphidinolide T1.