A ketal-tethered RCM strategy toward the synthesis of spiroketal related natural products

An unconventional approach to construct spiroketals and spiroaminals via ring-closing metathesis [RCM] of cyclic ketals and aminals, respectively, is described here. This method possesses a good generality with no loss of stereochemical integrity at the spirocenter under the standard RCM conditions. This approach has been applied to the synthesis of an insect pheromone to demonstrate its synthetic potential, and also to the synthesis of the C11-epi-C22-C23 fragment in spirastrellolide A. Both are proof-of-concept applications to feature a ketal-tethered RCM as an alternative strategy for construction of spiroketals.     

Asymmetric synthesis of naturally occurring spiroketals

Spiroketals are widely found as substructures of many naturally occurring compounds from diverse sources including plants, animals as well as microbes. Naturally occurring spiroketals are biologically active and most of them are chiral molecules. This article aims at reviewing the asymmetric synthesis of biologically active spiroketals for last 10 years (1998-2007).     

Synthesis of electron deficient 5,6-aryloxy spiroketals

[reaction: see text] A strategy for the construction of electron deficient 5,6-aryloxy spiroketal is reported. The process should prove useful for the synthesis of natural products containing similar spiroketals. The strategy uncovers an unexpected rearrangement between ortho and para quinone spiroketals.     

A Julia olefination approach to the synthesis of functionalized enol ethers and their transformation into carbohydrate-derived spiroketals

A synthesis of spiroketals from carbohydrate lactones is reported. A modified Julia olefination is used to synthesize trisubstituted and highly functionalized exo-glycals, which were subsequently transformed into spiroketals under acidic conditions.     

Synthesis of the C11-C23 fragment of spirastrellolide A. A ketal-tethered RCM approach to the construction of spiroketals

[reaction: see text]. The synthesis of the C11-C23 fragment in spirastrellolide A is described here featuring a ketal-tethered RCM as an alternative approach to the construction of spiroketals.     

The o-xylylene protecting group as an element of conformational control of remote stereochemistry in the synthesis of spiroketals

Protection of trans-1,2-diol segments as cyclic o-xylylene ethers strongly favours diequatorial over diaxial dispositions; the possibility of using this grouping for remote control of the stereochemistry in the synthesis of spiroketals is here demonstrated by the stereoselective synthesis of tricyclic spirodisaccharides (di-D-fructose dianhydrides).     

Designed Spiroketal Protein Modulation

Spiroketals are structural motifs found in many biologically active natural products, which has stimulated considerable efforts toward their synthesis and interest in their use as drug lead compounds. Despite this, the use of spiroketals, and especially bisbenzanulated spiroketals, in a structure‐based drug discovery setting has not been convincingly demonstrated. Herein, we report the rational design of a bisbenzannulated spiroketal that potently binds to the retinoid X receptor (RXR) thereby inducing partial co‐activator recruitment. We solved the crystal structure of the spiroketal–hRXRα–TIF2 ternary complex, and identified a canonical allosteric mechanism as a possible explanation for the partial agonist behavior of our spiroketal. Our co‐crystal structure, the first of a designed spiroketal–protein complex, suggests that spiroketals can be designed to selectively target other nuclear receptor subtypes.     

Synthesis of bisbenzannulated spiroketals-model studies for a modular approach to rubromycins

[reaction: see text] A highly flexible synthesis of bisbenzannulated spiroketals is described with additions of lithiated methoxyallene to aryl aldehydes and Heck reactions as key steps. Subsequent hydrogenations and ketalizations afforded the desired spiroketals in good yields and with predominating trans-configuration. With model compound 30, already bearing the fully substituted naphthyl core of rubromycins, the ketalization proceeded efficiently providing the expected product 31 and the isopropoxy compound 32. Both products are advanced model compounds of heliquinomycin.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of spiroketals via a remarkable methanol-induced kinetic spirocyclization reaction

A methanol-induced kinetic spiroketalization reaction has been developed for the stereocontrolled target- and diversity-oriented synthesis of spiroketals. In contrast to existing methods for spiroketal synthesis, this reaction does not depend on thermodynamic product stability or require axial attack of an oxygen nucleophile. Stereodiverse glycals are alkylated at the C1 position with side chains bearing protected hydroxyl groups. After alcohol deprotection, the glycal is epoxidized stereoselectively, then the side chain hydroxyl is spirocyclized with inversion of configuration at the anomeric carbon by addition of excess MeOH at -63 degrees C. This spirocyclization reaction appears to proceed by MeOH hydrogen-bonding catalysis and has been used to form five- and six-membered rings with stereoisomeric substituents. In some cases, the stereocomplementary spiroketals can be also obtained by classical acid-catalyzed equilibration.     

Furanyl spiroketals as stereochemical relays in the synthesis of 1,9-anti diols: synthesis of insect pheromones

A suite of spiroketal insect pheromones (15 and 17a-d) has been synthesised in good yield and with very high levels of diastereoselectivity via furanyl spiroketals. Remote asymmetric induction is achieved under thermodynamic control. The use of furanyl spiroketals as temporary scaffolds in the synthesis of 1,9-anti diols has been demonstrated with the synthesis of the swede midge pheromone (2S,10S)-2,10-diacetoxyundecane 1. The enzymatic resolution of a C₂ symmetric 1,9-anti diol was used as a confirmation of diastereomeric purity.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of spiroketals via Ti(Oi-Pr)4-mediated kinetic spirocyclization of glycal epoxides with retention of configuration

A Ti(Oi-Pr)4-mediated kinetic spiroketalization reaction has been developed for the stereocontrolled target- and diversity-oriented synthesis of spiroketals. In contrast to most existing methods for spiroketal synthesis, this reaction does not rely upon thermodynamic control over the stereochemical configuration at the anomeric carbon. Stereochemically diverse glycals are first alkylated at the C1-position to introduce a hydroxyl-bearing side chain, then epoxidized stereoselectively. Treatment with Ti(Oi-Pr)4 leads to an unusual kinetic epoxide-opening spirocyclization (spirocycloisomerization) with retention of configuration at the anomeric carbon. The reaction is proposed to proceed via a chelation-controlled mechanism and has been used to form five-, six-, and seven-membered rings with stereochemically diverse substituents. This approach may also be useful for the related intermolecular beta-mannosidation reaction. This Ti(Oi-Pr)4-mediated spirocyclization is stereochemically complementary to our previously reported MeOH-induced spirocyclization, which proceeds with inversion of configuration, and together, these reactions provide comprehensive access to systematically stereochemically diversified spiroketals.     

Synthesis of 6,6-bisbenzannulated spiroketals related to the rubromycins using a double intramolecular hetero-Michael addition (DIHMA)

The synthesis of a series of 6,6-bisbenzannulated spiroketals using a novel microwave-assisted DIHMA approach is reported. Coupling of an aryl acetylene and an aryl aldehyde via acetylide anion addition resulted in the formation of an alkynol which was followed by oxidation to the desired ynone. Spirocyclization using the DIHMA protocol afforded the desired bisbenzannulated spiroketal in good yield.     

Simple, but challenging: recent developments in the asymmetric synthesis of spiroketals

Impressive and elegant approaches to the enantioselective synthesis of spiroketals starting from achiral substrates have been described recently. These strategies based on transition-metal catalysis and organocatalysis hold great potential for further applications.     

Facile synthesis of naphthoquinone spiroketals by diastereoselective oxidative [3 + 2] cycloaddition

A highly selective oxidative [3 + 2] cycloaddition of chiral enol ethers and hydroxynaphthoquinone is described. This convergent strategy is amenable to an enantioselective synthesis of beta-rubromycin and related naphthoquinone spiroketals. Several compounds were found to inhibit DNA-polymerase and telomerase in a manner resembling alpha-rubromycin and beta-rubromycin.     

A highly efficient access to spiroketals, mono-unsaturated spiroketals, and furans: Hg(II)-catalyzed cyclization of alkyne diols and triols

Hg(II) salts are identified as highly efficient catalysts for the versatile construction of spiroketals from alkyne diols in aqueous conditions. Monounsaturated spiroketals and furans were accessed with equal ease when propargylic triols (or propargylic diols) were subjected to similar conditions. Even the semiprotected alkyne diols gave the corresponding spiroketals with the same ease in a cascade manner. The reactions are instant and high yielding at ambient temperatures. Regioselectivity issues are well addressed.     

Combinatorial synthesis of natural product-like molecules using a first-generation spiroketal scaffold

Recently, significant attention has been focused on the synthesis small-molecule libraries based on natural product or natural product-like structures. In this paper, we report our initial studies on the use of the 1,7-dioxaspiro[5,5]undecane (spiroketal) moiety as a rigid-core template for elaboration using parallel synthesis techniques. The synthesis of a spiroketal scaffold that is reminiscent of the spiroketal subunits found in the spiroketal macrolide antibiotics will be described. Elaboration of three independently addressable functional groups on the scaffold using solution-phase parallel synthesis techniques led to the preparation of a small library of natural product-like compounds. These studies pave the way for evaluation of highly functionalized spiroketals in phenotypic assays and as prospective antagonists of protein-protein interactions.     

New fluoride-promoted hypoiodite-catalytic oxidative cycloetherification to aromatic spiroketals

A new catalytic application of hypoiodite reagents generated in situ from iodide ions is found, which succeeded in the synthesis of bisbenzannelated spiroketal cores for the first time. Fluoride was proven to be obligatory for this spiroketalization, which is the first fluoride-promoted oxidative cycloetherification to aromatic spiroketals.     

Phyllanthoside-Phyllanthostatin synthetic studies. 6. An augmented spiroketalization tactic for the total synthesis of phyllanthocin

An enhanced spiroketalization maneuver permitting equilibration at both the C(8) and C(11) centers of spiroketals 17a,b leads to a more concise and efficient synthesis of phyllanthocin (i.e., 21 steps, 5.6% overall yield).     

Unified, radical-based approach for the synthesis of spiroketals

[reaction: see text] Functionalization of S-(3-chloro-2-oxo-propyl)-O-ethyl xanthate 1 by two consecutive xanthate transfer reactions, followed by spirocyclization of the resulting dihydroxy ketones, provides a flexible and highly convergent access to diversely substituted spiroketals, containing five-, six-, and seven-membered rings.     

Making Spiroketal‐based Diphosphine (SKP) Ligands via a Catalytic Asymmetric Approach

The spiro concept for chiral ligand design represents an important contribution to the area of asymmetric catalysis. Due to the considerable difficulties in the construction of enantiopure all‐carbon spiro backbones, the development of catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral spiro structures via short steps is highly valuable. Herein we present our studies on the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of aromatic spiroketals and the corresponding diphosphine (SKP) ligands.