Total synthesis and biosynthesis of the paraherquamides: an intriguing story of the biological Diels-Alder construction

The syntheses and biosyntheses of the paraherquamide and brevianamide families of prenylated indole-derived alkaloids are reviewed. It has been proposed that the unique bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctan ring system that is common to this family of natural products, arises by a biological intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction. Both synthetic approaches and total syntheses of several members of this family of natural products are reviewed. The biosynthesis of these alkaloids has also constituted an active area of research and the current state of knowledge on the biosynthesis of these natural products are reviewed.     

Total synthesis of dimeric pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids: sceptrin, ageliferin, nagelamide e, oxysceptrin, nakamuric acid, and the axinellamine carbon skeleton

The dimeric pyrrole imidazole natural products are a growing class of alkaloids with exotic connectivity, unique topologies, high nitrogen content, and exciting bioactivities. This full account traces the evolution of a strategy that culminated in the first total syntheses of several members of this family, including sceptrin, ageliferin, nagelamide E, nakamuric acid (and its methyl ester), and oxysceptrin. Details on the fascinating conversion of sceptrin to ageliferin, which has been used to produce gram quantities of this sensitive natural product, are provided. In addition, the first enantioselective total synthesis of sceptrin and ageliferin are reported by programming the fragmentation of an oxaquadricyclane. A hallmark of our approach to this family of alkaloids is the minimal use of protecting groups despite the presence of 10 nitrogen atoms in the target compounds. Thus, the fundamental chemistry of the 2-aminoimidazole heterocycle was explored without masking its innate reactivity. Insights gained during these explorations led to total syntheses of oxysceptrin and nakamuric acid and a successful construction of the carbon skeleton of axinellamine.     

Efficient Enantioselective Syntheses of Chiral Natural Products Facilitated by Ligand Design

The employment of enantioselective transition‐metal‐catalyzed transformations as key steps in asymmetric natural product syntheses have attracted considerable attention in recent years owing to their versatile synthetic utilities, mild conditions and high efficiency in chirality generation. The chiral catalysts or supporting ligands are believed to be crucial for the requisite reactivity and enantioselectivity. Therefore, the rational design of chiral ligands is at the heart of developing new asymmetric transition‐metal catalyzed reactions and provides an avenue to the asymmetric synthesis of natural products. Our group has been engaged in the development of transition‐metal‐catalyzed enantioselective cross‐coupling, cyclization and other related reactions and the application of these methodologies to natural product syntheses. In this account, we summarized our recent synthetic efforts towards the efficient total syntheses of several different types of natural products including terpenes, alkaloids and polyketides facilitated by the design of a series of versatile P‐chiral phosphorous ligands.     

Total syntheses of the tylophora alkaloids cryptopleurine, (-)-antofine, (-)-tylophorine, and (-)-ficuseptine C

A concise, efficient and modular approach to the tylophora alkaloids is described, a family of potent cytotoxic agents that are equally effective against drug sensitive and multidrug resistant cancer cell lines. The advantages of the chosen route are illustrated by the total syntheses of the phenanthroquinolizidine cryptopleurine (1) and the phenanthroindolizidines (-)-antofine (2), (-)-tylophorine (3), and their only recently isolated congener (-)-ficuseptine C (4). The key steps consist in a Suzuki cross-coupling between a (commercial) boronic acid and a simple aryl-1,2-dihalide followed by elaboration of the resulting products into the corresponding 2-alkynyl-biphenyl derivatives 27, 33, 41 and 46. The latter undergo PtCl2-catalyzed cycloisomerizations with formation of the functionalized phenanthrenes 28, 34, 42 and 47, which were transformed into the targeted alkaloids by a deprotection/Pictet-Spengler annulation tandem. Due to the flexibility and robust character of this approach, it might enable a systematic exploration of the pharmacological profile of this promising class of bioactive natural products.     

Golden opportunities in natural product synthesis: first total synthesis of (-)-isocyclocapitelline and (-)-isochrysotricine by gold-catalyzed allene cycloisomerization

The first enantioselective total syntheses of the beta-carboline alkaloids (-)-isochrysotricine (1) and (-)-isocyclocapitelline (2) are reported which confirm the absolute configuration of these natural products. Key steps are the copper-mediated S(N)2'-substitution of propargyl oxiranes 13/14 and the gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of alpha-hydroxyallene 15, resulting in a highly efficient center-to-axis-to-center chirality transfer.     

Progress on the total synthesis of natural products in China: From 2006 to 2010

This paper summarizes the progress on the total syntheses of natural products accomplished in mainland China during the period from 2006 to 2010.The overview focuses on the first total synthesis of natural products of contemporary interest including alkaloids,cyclopeptides and cyclic depsipeptides,macrolides,terpenoids and steroids,saponins and glycosides.The development of novel synthetic strategies and methodologies,and application of new selective synthetic methods in the total syntheses of natural products are included as well.     

Michael addition-based cyclization strategy in the total synthesis of Lycopodium alkaloids

Lycopodium alkaloids, a unique family of biologically important natural products isolated and characterized from various species of Lycopodium (sensu lato), have attracted extensive attention from chemists and pharmacists in the past three decades. Michael addition-based cyclization has been successfully employed as an elegant and efficient ring-construction protocol of constructing key cyclohexanone intermediates in the total synthesis of Lycopodium alkaloids. This mini-review chooses and summarizes several representative total syntheses of various Lycopodium alkaloids in which intramolecular Michael addition severed as the key methodology.     

Stereodivergent total syntheses of precoccinelline, hippodamine, coccinelline, and convergine

[structure: see text] A stereodivergent approach toward total syntheses of Coccinellidae defensive alkaloids is described. These syntheses feature a highly diastereoselective intramolecular aza-[3 + 3] annulation strategy, which represents a de novo approach to this family of natural products.     

Stereoselective total syntheses of three Lycopodium alkaloids, (-)-magellanine, (+)-magellaninone, and (+)-paniculatine, based on two Pauson-Khand reactions

The total syntheses of (-)-magellanine, (+)-magellaninone, and (+)-paniculatine were completed from diethyl l-tartrate via the common intermediate in a stereoselective manner. The crucial steps in these syntheses involved two intramolecular Pauson-Khand reactions of enynes: the first Pauson-Khand reaction constructed the bicyclo[4.3.0] carbon framework, the corresponding A and B rings of these alkaloids in a highly stereoselective manner, whereas the second Pauson-Khand reaction stereoselectively produced the bicyclo[3.3.0]skeleton, which could be converted into the C and D rings of the target natural products.     

Enantioselective Syntheses of Heteroyohimbine Natural Products: A Unified Approach through Cooperative Catalysis

Alstonine and serpentine are pentacyclic indoloquinolizidine alkaloids (referred to as “anhydronium bases”) containing three contiguous stereocenters. Each possesses interesting biological activity, with alstonine being the major component of a plant‐based remedy to treat psychosis and other nervous system disorders. This work describes the enantioselective total syntheses of these natural products with a cooperative hydrogen bonding/enamine‐catalyzed Michael addition as the key step.     

Recent developments in the synthesis of zoanthamine alkaloids

This review provides a compilation of the most recent synthetic approaches and total syntheses of zoanthamine alkaloids, which are structurally unique heptacyclic marine natural products that display a range of interesting biological activities. This review is focused on synthetic methodologies for the construction of the three adjacent quaternary asymmetric carbon atoms on the cyclohexane ring (C-ring) of these compounds. The literature covered in this review dates from 2008 to the end of 2013.     

Enantioselective Formal Syntheses of 11 Nuphar Alkaloids and Discovery of Potent Apoptotic Monomeric Analogues

Concise, scalable, and enantioselective formal syntheses of eight dimeric and three monomeric nuphar alkaloids were achieved, along with the construction of a stereochemically diverse collection of the first known monomeric analogues having apoptotic activity. The syntheses involved the development of highly enantioselective Brønsted acid catalyzed vinylogous Mukaiyama–Mannich reactions, which feature the unprecedented use of a supersilyl group to control the regio‐, enantio‐ and diastereoselectivity. Biological studies reveal that several of these novel nuphar analogues are even more potent than their dimeric natural product counterparts.     

Xylochemical Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Shancigusin C and Bletistrin G

The biological activities of shancigusin C (1) and bletistrin G (2), natural products isolated from orchids, are reported along with their first total syntheses. The total synthesis of shancigusin C (1) was conducted by employing the Perkin reaction to forge the central stilbene core, whereas the synthesis of bletistrin G (2) was achieved by the Wittig olefination followed by several regioselective aromatic substitution reactions. Both syntheses were completed by applying only renewable starting materials according to the principles of xylochemistry. The cytotoxic properties of shancigusin C (1) and bletistrin G (2) against tumor cells suggest suitability as a starting point for further structural variation.     

Cascade Reactions: A Driving Force in Akuammiline Alkaloid Total Synthesis

The akuammiline alkaloids are a family of intricate natural products which have received considerable attention from scientists worldwide. Despite the fact that many members of this alkaloid class were discovered over 50 years ago, synthetic chemistry has been unable to address their architectures until recently. This minireview provides a brief overview of the rich history of the akuammiline alkaloids, including their isolation, structural features, biological activity, and proposed biosyntheses. Furthermore, several recently completed total syntheses are discussed in detail. These examples not only serve to highlight modern achievements in alkaloid total synthesis, but also demonstrate how the molecular scaffolds of the akuammilines have provided inspiration for the discovery and implementation of innovative cascade reactions for the rapid assembly of complex structures.     

Streamlined synthesis of phosphatidylinositol (PI), PI3P, PI3,5P2, and deoxygenated analogues as potential biological probes

Highly direct total syntheses of phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI3P), phosphatidylinositol-3,5-bisphosphate (PI3,5P2), and a range of deoxygenated versions are reported. Each synthesis is carried out to deliver the target in optically pure form. The key step for each synthesis is a catalytic asymmetric phosphorylation reaction that affects desymmetrization of an appropriate myo-inositol precursor. Elaboration to each target compound is then carried out employing a diversity-oriented strategy from the common precursors. In addition to three natural products, several additional streamlined total syntheses of deoxygenated PI analogues are reported. These syntheses set the stage for high-precision biological investigations of polar headgroup/biological target interactions of these membrane-associated signaling molecules.     

Stereocontrolled preparation of bicyclic alkaloid analogues: an approach towards the kinabalurine skeleton

An approach towards the construction of bicyclic analogues of monoterpene alkaloids belonging to the kinabalurine, incarvilline and skytanthine families of natural products is reported. These syntheses rely on a stereoselective intramolecular Pauson-Khand cyclisation of a chiral pool-derived enyne in order to prepare the bicyclic core. Stereoselective further elaboration generates diastereomeric analogues of the naturally occurring alkaloids.     

Epothilone B and its Derivatives as Novel Antitumor Drugs: Total and Partial Synthesis and Biological Evaluation

 Microtubule stabilizing natural products, as exemplified by paclitaxel (taxol^?), are being considered as novel drugs against malignant therapy resistent solid tumors. Among these compounds, epothilone B and some of its derivatives have emerged as particularly promising candidates for industrial development. The total and partial syntheses of these compounds are described in detail, and some of the most important recent results on their biological activity are discussed.     

A Case for Bond‐Network Analysis in the Synthesis of Bridged Polycyclic Complex Molecules: Hetidine and Hetisine Diterpenoid Alkaloids

A key challenge in the synthesis of diterpenoid alkaloids lies in identifying strategies that rapidly construct their multiply bridged polycyclic skeletons. Existing approaches to these structurally intricate secondary metabolites are discussed in the context of a “bond‐network analysis” of molecular frameworks, which was originally devised by Corey some 40 years ago. The retrosynthesis plans that emerge from a topological analysis of the highly bridged frameworks of the diterpenoid alkaloids are discussed in the context of eight recent syntheses of hetidine and hetisine natural products and their derivatives. This Minireview highlights the extent to which network analyses of the type described here sufficed for designing synthesis plans, as well as areas where they had to be amalgamated with functional group oriented synthetic planning considerations.     

Intramolecular Biaryl Oxidative Coupling of Stilbene Substrates by Vanadium Oxytrichloride (VOCl3): Facile Synthesis of Substituted Phenanthrene Derivatives

The biaryl unit is extensively presented in many classes of natural products, such as polyketides, terpenes, lignanes,coumarins, flavonoids, tannins, and many alkaloids.[1] It has long been recognized that an intramolecular oxidative phenolic or nonphenolic coupling reaction serves as the key step in the biosynthesis of these natural products, and the non-enzymic analogue of this transformation can lead the elegantly simple syntheses of these compounds.[2] During the last decade, a large number of oxidative coupling reagents, such as ferric chloride (FeCl3), phenyliodine(Ⅲ)bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA), lead(Ⅳ) tetraacetate [Pb(OAc)4], thallium(Ⅲ) triflouroacetate (TTFA), as well as vanadium oxytrifluoride (VOF3),[3,4] have been developed for this target. However, extensive application of this synthetic potential has been limited by low yields and unexpected side reactions usually encountered.     

抗癌天然产物苦马豆素的合成研究进展

在过去十多年中, 多羟基吲哚兹定生物碱因其结构和多样性的生物活性(抗病毒、抗肿瘤、免疫调节活性)而引起了极大的关注. 其中最著名的成员是苦马豆素, 一种从灰苦马豆等植物中提取出来的化合物, 被证明具有治疗恶性肿瘤的作用并因此进行了大量合成研究. 到目前为止文献报道的合成方法都是基于碳水化合物原料或非碳水化合物底物和不对称反应. 尽管有些合成路线有效并且有实用价值, 但进一步开发制备天然或非天然吲哚兹定生物碱的通用和实用方法仍然非常重要. 总结了苦马毒素的合成研究进展, 以便为它的规模化生产提供思路和方法.