α- and γ-Regiocontrol and Enantiospecificity in the Copper-Catalyzed Substitution Reaction of Propargylic Phosphates with Grignard Reagents

The regioselectivity (r.s.) and enantiospecificity (e.s.) of the substitution reactions of secondary propargylic alcohol derivatives using reagents derived from ArMgBr and Cu salts were studied. First, the picolinate, 3-methylpicolinate, and diethylphosphonate derivatives of Ph(CH₂)₂CH(OH)C≡CTMS were reacted with PhMgBr/CuCN in ratios of 2.5:2.7–2.5:0.25. The use of 2.5:0.25 ratio in THF/DME (6:1) at 0 °C for 1 h afforded the α-substitution product from the phosphate with ≥98 % r.s. and 99 % e.s. CuBr⋅Me₂S gave similar selectivity. The reaction system was then applied to phosphates derived from R¹CH(OH)C≡CR² and ArMgBr to obtain synthetically sufficient r.s. and e.s. values with R²=TMS, Ph, whereas iPr was borderline in terms of size as an R¹ substituent. The presence of a substituent at the o-position of Ar marginally affected the selectivity. We also found that the use of PhMgBr/Cu(acac)₂ in a 2:1 ratio in THF produced the γ-substitution products (allenes) with high r.s. and e.s.     

Total synthesis of the antiinflammatory and proresolving protectin D1

Stereoselective total synthesis of protectin D1 was completed through construction of the Z,E,E-triene structure by using the Suzuki coupling between the vinyl borane (C13-C22) and the vinyl iodide (C1-C12). The Z-enyne, the acetylene precursor of the vinyl borane was synthesized from optically active γ-TMS allylic alcohol in a straightforward way. On the other hand, the vinyl iodide was prepared by using Wittig reaction between the C8-C12 aldehyde possessing the requisite iodo-olefin moiety and the C1-C7 phosphonium iodide.     

Strategy for synthesis of the isoleucine conjugate of epi-jasmonic acid

The TES ether of 2-((1R,2S,3R)-3-hydroxy-2-((Z)-pent-2-enyl)cyclopentyl)acetic acid (5, equal to the reduction product of epi-jasmonic acid) derived from (1R,4S)-4-hydroxycyclopent-2-enyl acetate (19) in 13 steps was activated by using isobutyl chloroformate and was subjected to condensation with isoleucine at room temperature for 48 h. The product was desilylated and oxidized to the isoleucine conjugate of epi-jasmonic acid in 68% yield over three steps. Similarly, allo-isoleucine conjugate of epi-jasmonic acid and three isoleucine conjugates of ent-epi-jasmonic acid, jasmonic acid, and ent-jasmonic acid were synthesized.     

Total synthesis of resolvin E1

Resolvin E1 (RvE1), which is an endogenous mediator to resolve inflammation, was synthesized by Wittig reaction between the C15-C20 aldehyde and the C10-C14 phosphonium salt possessing the vinyl iodo moiety followed by Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of the resulting vinyl iodide with the vinyl borane of the C1-C9 part, which was derived from the corresponding acetylene by hydroboration. The C5 and C18 chiral centers in these parts were created by the kinetic resolution of the racemic γ-TMS allylic alcohols using the asymmetric epoxidation, while that of the C10-C14 part was constructed by the asymmetric hydrogen transfer reaction of the corresponding γ-TMS acetylene ketone.     

Copper-Catalyzed Coupling Reaction of Secondary Alkyl 2-Pyridinesulfonates with Alkyl Lithium-Based Reagents

The Cu(OTf)₂-catalyzed alkyl–alkyl coupling reaction of a secondary substrate MeCH(OSO₂Py)CH₂CH₂C₆H₄(4-OMe) with a nBuLi-based reagent prepared by transmetalation with MgBr₂ ⋅ THF₃ in THF produced a coupling product in 74 % yield. The use of soluble MgBr₂ ⋅ THF₃ in THF was required for this reaction. This method was applied to sBuLi and Ph(CH₂)₄Li. In contrast, transmetalation of MeLi with soluble MgCl₂ ⋅ THF₂ in THF produced the Me reagent, which was reactive for the coupling reaction. The reaction proceeded with inversion of the stereogenic carbon. Furthermore, (S)-14-methyloctadecan-2-one, a sex pheromone produced by lichen moths, was synthesized.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (2R,3S,4S)-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-tetradecyl-4-butanolide starting from 2,5-anhydro-d-mannitol

A novel approach to natural β-hydroxy-γ-lactone 2 from 2,5-anhydro-d-mannitol (1) is described. The key reactions in this synthesis include stereoselective methylation of aldehyde 3 with lithium dimethylcuprate, an intramolecular radical cyclization of seleno carbonate 11 and an intermolecular cross-metathesis of 3-allyl-4-hydroxy-γ-lactone 16 with 1-tridecene.     

Substitution of Secondary Benzylic Phosphates with Diarylmethyl Anions

Substitution of diethyl and diphenyl benzylic phosphates, Alk-CH(Ar¹)OP(O)(OR)₂ (R = Et, Ph; Alk = Me, Et, i-Pr; Ar¹ = aryl), with the anions derived from Ar²CH₂ (Ph₂CH₂,9H-xanthene and fluorene) and n-BuLi at –15 °C was studied. For phosphates with Me as an Alk, diethyl phosphates produced Me-CH(Ar¹)CH(Ar²)₂ (Ar¹ = 4-halo-, 4-CN, 4-Me-, 2-Me, 2-Br-, 3-MeO-phenyl and 2-naphthyl). However, an unwanted substitution at the Et group competed with phosphates of Alk = Et- and i-Pr. Fortunately, the corresponding diphenyl phosphates cleanly underwent the desired substitution. Two enantioenriched phosphates, MeCH(Ph)OP(O)(OEt)₂ and EtCH(Ph)OP(O)(OPh)₂, proceeded with complete inversion of the stereochemistry.     

Synthesis of maresin 1 and (7S)-isomer

Maresin 1 (with the 7R carbon) and (7S)-maresin 1 were synthesized stereoselectively. The conjugated triene system was constructed by Pd-catalyzed coupling of the trans cis-dienylborane (the C10–C22 part) with the trans vinyl iodide corresponding to the C1–C9 part. The stereogenic centers at C7 and C14 were created by Ru-catalyzed asymmetric reduction of ketone and asymmetric epoxidation/kinetic resolution of the racemic alcohol, respectively.     

Total synthesis of the proposed structure for pyragonicin

[structure: see text] The total synthesis of acetogenin 1 reported for pyragonicin and its 10-epimer 32 is described. The common THP ring system was stereoselectively constructed through a SmI(2)-induced reductive cyclization of beta-alkoxy acrylate 5 followed by Mitsunobu inversion, and each chiral center at C-10 was created by Brown's asymmetric allylation. Compound 1 had spectroscopic data consistent with that of natural pyragonicin, but a different optical rotation.