Stereoselective syntheses of 20-epi cholanic acid derivatives from 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate

A stereoselective total synthesis of naturally occurring 20-epi cholanic acid derivatives has been realized, starting from readily available 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate. The key step of these syntheses involves an ionic hydrogenation of a C-20,22-ketene dithioacetal and deoxygenation of steroidal C-20 tert-alcohols, to set up the unnatural C(20R) configuration with 100% stereoselectivity. The unnatural C-22 aldehydes with C(20R) stereocenters thus obtained were elaborated to 20-epi cholanic acid derivatives. Two derivatives of 20-epi cholanic acid were synthesized and their structures have been confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. Catalytic hydrogenation of 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate and 16-dehydropregnenolone in ethanol affords C-5,C-16 tetrahydro products. Crystal structure analysis of one of these products revealed C-5α and C-17α configurations of the hydrogen atoms.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-gabosine C and (+)-4-epi-gabosine J using acetate migration and RCM reaction

A concise, unified and stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-gabosine C and (+)-4-epi-gabosine J from a common polyhydroxylated cyclohexenol intermediate which was synthesized from readily available D-ribose has been described. The synthetic avenue includes stereoselective Grignard reaction, silyl ether deprotection followed by acetate migration, RCM reaction, oxidative diol cleavage, hydroxymethylation and oxidative rearrangement as key steps.     

An asymmetric approach to 5-O-carbamoyl-2-epi-polyoxamic acid and the total synthesis of 2′′-epi-polyoxin J

A stereospecific synthetic approach to 5-O-carbamoyl-2-epi-polyoxamic acid has been developed. The asymmetric nucleophilic addition of 2-lithiofuran to a tert-butanesulfinyl imine was employed as the key step to construct the C-2 stereocenter and 2′′-epi-polyoxin J has been synthesized for the first time. Significantly, the synthesis provides a facile method for the large scale and stereoselective preparation of 5-O-carbamoyl-2-epi-polyoxamic acid and some related diastereoisomers of polyoxins and its analogues because of its simple operation, excellent yield, and high stereoselectivity. This will be convenient for research of the polyoxins’ structure–activity relationship and to search for more potent and effective anticandidal agents.     

[2,3]-Wittig rearrangement approach to iminosugar C-glycosides: 5-epi-ethylfagomine, 2-epi-5-deoxyadenophorine and formal synthesis of indolizidine 167B and 209D

A new strategy for the synthesis of 1,2-dideoxy iminosugar C-glycosides and indolizidines involving highly stereoselective [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement from Garner aldehyde has been developed. This rearrangement yielded an optically pure, highly functionalized key intermediate, which has been further utilized for the synthesis of 5-epi-ethylfagomine, 2-epi-5-deoxyadenophorine, and 5-hydroxymethyl indolizidine.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (−)-8-epi-swainsonine starting with a chiral aziridine

An efficient synthesis of (?)-8-epi-swainsonine, starting from a commercially available 1-(R)-α-methylbenzylaziridine-2-methanol, was developed. The synthetic route utilizes stereocontrolled Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation governed by AD-mix-β followed by an aziridine ring opening-cyclization sequence to generate the five membered N-heterocyclic ring system present in the bicyclic target. A subsequent stereoselective allylation and piperidine ring forming cyclization then produced a precursor that was converted into (?)-8-epi-swainsonine.     

12-Epi-9-deacetoxyxenicin,new cytotoxic diterpenoid from a Bornean soft coral,Xenia sp.

One new compound, 12-epi-9-deacetoxyxenicin (1) along with a hydroperoxide product, 12-epi-9-deacetoxy-8-hydroperoxyxenicin (2) and two known sesquiterpenoids (3–4) were isolated from a population of Bornean soft coral Xenia sp. The structures of these secondary metabolites were elucidated based on their spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 and 2 showed cytotoxic activity against ATL cell line, S1T. In addition, compound 3 exhibited hyphal inhibition of Lagenidium thermophilum.     

The combined use of stereoelectronic control and ring closing metathesis for the synthesis of (−)-8-epi-swainsonine

A novel and efficient synthesis of (−)-8-epi-swainsonine 2 is reported. Stereocontrolled diol formation from the bicyclic alkene 3 followed by a stereoselective vinylation of the aldehyde and ring closing metathesis gave the indolizidine ring system, which was converted into (−)-8-epi-swainsonine 2.     

Inverse stereoselectivity in the nucleophilic attack on five-membered ring oxocarbenium ions. Application to the total synthesis of 7-epi-(+)-goniofufurone

A highly stereoselective nucleophilic substitution at the anomeric position of 1,2-O-isopropylidene furanose derivatives was employed for the synthesis of 7-epi-(+)-goniofufurone and two of its stereoisomers. According to Woerpel's model, the stereoselectivity depends essentially on stereoelectronic factors that lead to a preferred nucleophilic attack on the inside face of the five-membered ring oxocarbenium ion in a folded conformation, whereby the stereochemical outcome generally is controlled by the substituent at the C3 position (OR group). Herein, we developed a strategy for a reverse stereoselective nucleophilic substitution, by placing an acetyl group at the C5 position of the xylofuranose ring, leading now to the nucleophilic approach on the outside face of the respective oxocarbenium ion. With this methodology, starting from diacetone-d-glucose derivative, we were able to achieve in seven steps the total synthesis of the powerful anti-tumor compound 7-epi-(+)-goniofufurone in a remarkable overall yield of 33%.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of 10-epi-tirandamycin E

A stereoselective total synthesis of 10-epi-tirandamycin E is described, employing desymmetrization protocol, ring-closing metathesis (RCM), acid-catalyzed ketalization, substrate controlled dihydroxylation and Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination as key reactions.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of acremomannolipin A and its anomer,the potent calcium signal modulators with a novel glycolipid structure: role of the stereochemistry at the anomeric center on the activity

A full account of stereoselective total synthesis of a novel glycolipid, acremomannolipin A (1), the potent calcium signal modulator isolated from Acremonium strictum, by employing the stereoselective β-mannosylation of 4,6-O-benzylidene-protected mannosyl sulfoxide with d-mannitol as the key reaction is described. The α-anomer (epi-1) of 1 was also synthesized selectively. The calcium modulating activity was reduced upon inversion of the configuration at the anomeric center, indicating that the β-configuration of the mannose moiety is preferable for the activity.     

Observations relevant to the mechanism of the reductive aminations of ketones with sodium cyanoborohydride and ammonium acetate

Fortimicin B (2) has been converted to 6'-epi-fortimicin B 5 and 6'-epi-fortimicin A 4 both of which have the same diaminosugar moiety as that present in gentamicin C₂3. The syntheses of the 6'-epi-fortimicins and their antibacterial activities are reported.Although reductive amination of 1,2'-di-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-6'-oxo-fortimicin B-4,5-carbamate 17 with sodium cyanoborohydride and ammonium acetate in methanol gave a mixture of 1,2'-di-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-6'-epi-fortimicin B-4,5-carbamate 18 and 1,2'-di-N-benzyloxycarbonylfortimicin B-4,5-carbamate 14, attempted reduction of 1,2'-di-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-6'-iminofortimicin B-4,5-carbamate 16, under identical conditions gave only recovered imine. The significance of these results relative to the mechanism of the reductive amination of carbonyl compounds with sodium cyanoborohydride and amine salts is discussed.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-boronolide, (+)-anamarine, 8-epi-spicegerolide

A stereoselective total synthesis of the naturally occurring cytotoxic lactones (+)-boronolide, (+)-anamarine, and 8-epi-spicigerolide is described. d-Xylose has been used as a chiral source to construct the four contiguous oxygenated stereogenic centers of target molecules. The diastereoselective allylation was performed using Brown’s protocol and the lactone moiety was prepared by ring closing metathesis.     

Palladium-catalysed allylic amination for the direct synthesis of epi-4-alkylamino-N-acetylneuraminic acid derivatives

A simple and efficient procedure has been developed for the direct formation of epi-4-alkylamino-N-acetylneuraminic acid derivatives as potential inhibitors of influenza neuraminidases. The allylic amination of oxazoline 6 has been effected with a series of primary and secondary amines in the presence of catalytic Pd(π-allyl)₂(Et₃P)₂ to give the corresponding 4-epi-alkylamino products in a stereoselective and regiospecific manner.     

A synthesis of 2-epi-fagomine using gold(I)-catalysed allene cyclisation

A synthesis of 2-epi-fagomine via a highly stereoselective gold(I)-catalysed allene cyclisation is described. The stereochemical outcome of the cyclisation is opposite to that observed in previous studies. In contrast, gold(III)-catalysed cyclisation is inefficient and gives rise to double cyclisation by-products.     

Synthesis of dysiherbaine analogue

Synthesis of dysiherbaine analogue 4, which corresponds to 8,9-epi-neodysiherbaine A, is described. The synthesis features a concise route to the bicyclic ether skeleton through stereoselective C-glycosylation to set the C₆ stereocenter and 5-exo ring-closure to form the tetrahydrofuran ring. The results of preliminary biological studies of 4 are also provided.     

A short stereoselective synthesis of the protected uracil 3′-epi-polyoxin C

A short synthetic approach to the protected uracil 3′-epi-polyoxin C 20 has been developed. The stereoselective [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of the corresponding 7-thiocyanato-α-d-xylo-hept-5-enfuranose 6 was employed as the key step to construct the C-5 stereocentre in 5-isothiocyanato-α-d-gluco-hept-6-enfuranose 8 and the formal synthesis of uracil 3′-epi-polyoxin C has been accomplished for the first time. This synthesis provides a facile method for multigram scale preparation and thus is useful for the research into the polyoxins’ structure-activity relationship and to search for more potent and effective anticandidal agents.     

Total syntheses of dl-mesembrine, dl-dihydromaritidine and dl-epi-dihydromaritidine via regioselective NaBH4/H+ reduction of imides

NaBH₄/H+ reduction of α,α-disubstituted succimmides proceeds in a highly regioselective manner to afford the corresponding ω-carbinol-lactams in quantitative yield. By extension of this versatile method, the cyclic α-acylimmonium ion has been used for short and stereoselective syntheses of dl-mesembrine, dl-dihydromaritidine and dl-epi-dihydromaritidine.     

A common and stereoselective strategy for the synthesis of N,O,O,O-tetra-acetyl d-ribo-(2S,3S,4R)-phytosphingosine and 2-epi-jaspine B

A common and stereoselective strategy for the synthesis of N,O,O,O-tetra-acetyl d-ribo-(2S,3S,4R)-phytosphingosine and 2-epi-jaspine B was achieved by using Grignard addition on N-benzyl sugar lactamine and Wittig olefination as key steps.     

Enantioselective synthesis and absolute configurations of aculeatins A, B, D, and 6-epi-aculeatin D

The three naturally occurring, bioactive spiroacetals aculeatins A, B, and D, as well as the non-natural 6-epi-aculeatin D have been synthesized for the first time in enantiopure form using an asymmetric allylation as the only chirality source. A further key step was a stereoselective aldol reaction with remote induction. The absolute configurations of the natural products have been established and an erroneous structural assignment has been corrected.     

Stereoselective Syntheses of all the Possible Stereoisomers of Coronafacic Acid

An efficient and stereoselective syntheses of all the possible stereoisomers of coronafacic acid (CFA) has been developed. The stereochemistries of C3a and C7a were controlled in a diastereoselective Diels-Alder type cycloaddition using a chiral auxiliary. CFA and 6-epi-CFA were synthesized by hydrogenation of a common intermediate. During the synthesis of 6-epi-CFA, we established that its cis-fused configuration is important for the introduction of C4-C5 double bond by dehydration. This report is the first practical synthesis of both 6-epi-CFA, and its enantiomer.