Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-ottelione A, (-)-ottelione B, (+)-3-epi-ottelione A and preliminary evaluation of their antitumor activity

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-ottelione A (1) and (-)-ottelione B (2), novel and potent antitumor agents from a freshwater plant, and (+)-3-epi-ottelione A (3), the earlier proposed stereostructure of 1, was efficiently achieved starting from the known tricyclic compound 10. The synthesis involved the following key steps: i) coupling reactions of aldehydes 8 and 9 with the aromatic portion 7 (8+7-->15 and 9+7-->27), ii) base-induced hemiacetal-opening/epimerization reactions of the cyclic hemiacetals 6 and 27 (6-->17 and 27 a-->26 a), and iii) Corey-Winter's reductive olefination of the cyclic thiocarbonates 21 and 36 (21-->22 and 36-->37). The present total synthesis fully established the absolute configuration of these natural products. The cell growth inhibition profile, COMPARE analysis, and tubulin inhibitory assay of (+)-3-epi-ottelione A (3) and its O-acetyl derivative 24 demonstrated that these unnatural substances could be prominent lead compounds for the development of anticancer agents with a novel mode of action.     

Synthesis of (+)- and (−)-isocarvone

The first synthesis of 5-isopropenyl-3-methyl-cyclohex-2-enone, (isocarvone) (2), in enantiomerically pure form is reported. Both enantiomers of 2 can be produced by manipulation of carboxylic acid 5, which is available from R-(−)-carvone (1). These materials provide new chiral building blocks that could be used in total synthesis of natural products and related optically active compounds.     

A concise diastereoselective approach to (+)-dexoxadrol, (−)-epi-dexoxadrol, (−)-conhydrine and (+)-lentiginosine from (−)-pipecolinic acid

A new diastereoselective pathway for the total synthesis of (+)-dexoxadrol, first asymmetric synthesis of (−)-epi-dexoxadrol and formal synthesis of conhydrine and (+)-lentiginosine is presented using commercially available (−)-pipecolinic acid. The key reactions utilized are Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and Wittig reaction. The paper further describes the study of effect of protecting groups on dihydroxylation of a terminal olefin in piperidine ring system.     

Enantiodivergent syntheses of (−)- and (+)-dysibetaine CPa and N-desmethyl analog

The first total syntheses of (−)-dysibetaine CPa and the antipode have been achieved using enantioselective solvolysis of meso-cyclic anhydride mediated by quinine derivative as an organocatalyst. The synthesis features a demonstration of an enantiodivergent organic synthesis of both enantiomers of dysibetaine CPa whereby the absolute configurations of natural product were elucidated as (3R,4R). Application of the present methodology to an enantiomerically pure novel GABA analog is also reported.     

Total synthesis and absolute configuration of otteliones A and B, novel and potent antitumor agents from a freshwater plant

[reaction: see text] The first enantioselective total synthesis of otteliones A and B, biologically important and structurally novel natural products, has been successfully achieved. This total synthesis fully confirms the absolute configuration of these natural products.     

Total synthesis of natural (+)-sesbanimide a and (-)-sesbanimide b

The first total synthesis of natural (+)-sesbanimide A (1) and (-)-sesbanimide B (2), potent antitumor alkaloids isolated from the seeds of the leguminous plant, Sesbania drummondii, has been accomplished starting from D-(+)-xylose. This total synthesis involves efficient construction of the optically active AB-ring system from D-(+)-xylose, introduction of the C₅-unit into the AB-ring system in a form of exo-methylene-γ-lactone, and elaboration of the labile C-ring system at the last stage of the synthesis. The absolute configurations of natural 1 and 2 could be obviously established by our total synthesis.     

Synthesis of (−)- and (+)-8-fluoro-galanthamine

The synthesis of racemic 8-fluorogalanthamine and its separation into (−)- and (+)-8-fluorogalanthamine (= (4aS,6R,8aS)- and (4aR,6S,8aR)-1-fluoro-4a,5,9,10,11,12-hexahydro-3-methoxy-11-methyl-6H-benzofuro[3a,3,2-ef][2]benzazepin-6-ol) is described.     

Stereoselective total syntheses of (+)-exo- and (−)-exo-brevicomins, (+)-endo- and (−)-endo-brevicomins, (+)- and (−)-cardiobutanolides, (+)-goniofufurone

Stereoselective total syntheses of aggregation pheromones (+)-exo-brevicomin (9a), (−)-exo-brevicomin (9b), (+)-endo-brevicomin (9c), (−)-endo-brevicomin (9d) and styryllactones (+)-cardiobutanolide (14a), (−)-cardiobutanolide (14b), and (+)-goniofufurone (19a) were achieved in good yields from enantiomerically pure highly functionalized furanoid glycal building blocks (1a-d) involving similar synthetic strategies, thus making these furanoid glycals highly useful building blocks in diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS).     

Enantioselective formal synthesis of antitumor agent (+)-ottelione A

The enantioselective formal synthesis of a natural antitumor product, (+)-ottelione A, was achieved through a catalytic enantioselective Diels-Alder strategy. These endeavors have led to the synthesis of a variety of synthetic analogues of this biologically potent natural product.     

Total synthesis of marine bisindole alkaloids, (+)-hamacanthins A, B and (−)-antipode of cis-dihydrohamacanthin B

The total synthesis of the marine bisindole alkaloids, (+)-hamacanthins A (2a) and B (2b), and (−)-antipode of cis-dihydrohamacanthin B (2e) was achieved by transamidation-cyclization of N-(2-aminoethyl)-2-oxoethanamide 18 derived from (S)-indolylglycinol 10.     

Chemoenzymatic enantiodivergent total syntheses of (+)- and (−)-codeine

Whole-cell fermentation of β-bromoethylbenzene with the recombinant strain Escherichia coli JM109 (pDTG601) that over-expresses toluene dioxygenase provided the corresponding cis-dihydrodiol 19, which served as a starting material for both enantiomers of codeine. The key intermediate for the synthesis of (+)-codeine was diol 25b, whose Mitsunobu coupling with bromoisovanillin was followed by an intramolecular Heck cyclization to aldehyde 35b. Elaboration of this material to vinyl bromide 27b allowed for the second Heck cyclization 36b. Adjustment of the C-6 stereogenic center and hydroamination completed the synthesis of ent-codeine in 14 steps from β-bromoethylbenzene. Diol 33b was converted via Mitsunobu reaction to epoxide 29, whose allylic opening with bromoisovanillin provided ether 54, the enantiomer of 35b. The synthesis of (−)-codeine was completed via two Heck cyclizations and a hydroamination protocol, in an analogous manner as that of ent-codeine. In addition, both enantiomers of epoxide 29, convenient precursors for the coupling with bromoisovanillin, were prepared from diol 33b by Mitsunobu reactions and cyclizations of the trans-diol moiety. Spectral and experimental data are provided for all compounds.     

A concise and stereoselective synthesis of (+)- and (−)-deoxoprosophylline

An efficient synthesis of (+)- and (−)-deoxoprosophylline was accomplished from the readily available cis-2-butene-1,4-diol in which the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation was used as the key step.     

New synthesis of (−)- and (+)-actinobolin from d-glucose

The total synthesis of (−)-actinobolin 2, an antipode of the natural product starting from d-glucose is described. A three-component coupling reaction of a functionalized cyclohexenone (+)-6, derived from d-glucose by way of Ferrier's carbocyclization, with vinyl cuprate and an aldehyde (R)-5 effectively constructed the carbon framework of 2 in a highly stereoselective manner. The formal synthesis of the natural enantiomer 1 from d-glucose was also achieved.     

Total synthesis of (−)-radicamine B

The synthesis of a chiral cyclic nitrone with l-arabino configuration and its application in the total synthesis of radicamine B is reported. An agreement in the spectral data with natural radicamine B but specific rotation with an opposite sign warranted a revision of the absolute configuration of radicamine B.     

Total synthesis of racemic,natural (+) and unnatural (−) scorzocreticin

The first total synthesis of racemic scorzocreticin and its pure enantiomers is described from readily available 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid. The key steps include Wittig olefination, asymmetric Me-CBS (Corey–Bakshi–Shibata) oxazaborolidine reduction, and improved Pd-catalyzed intramolecular lactonization reactions. Both the (S)-natural and (R)-unnatural enantiomers of scorzocreticin have been synthesized in excellent enantioselectivities (>99% and 99% ee, respectively). In addition, 1,10-phenanthroline, a bidentate N-ligand was employed in palladium-catalyzed intramolecular carbonylation/lactonization reaction for the construction of 3,4-dihydroisocoumarin ring.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (−)-epoxyquinols A and B. Novel, convenient access to chiral epoxyquinone building blocks through enzymatic desymmetrization

Following our recent total synthesis of the biologically potent natural products epoxyquinols A and B in racemic form, we have now accomplished the total synthesis of the (−)-epoxyquinols A and B, anti-podes of the angiogenesis inhibiting natural products, through a protocol that involves enzymatic desymmetrization of a versatile epoxyquinone derivative, readily available from the Diels-Alder adduct of cyclopentadiene and p-benzoquinone.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (S)-(−)-quinolactacin B

The enantioselective total synthesis of (−)-quinolactacin B (−)-1 was performed in seven steps and 33% overall yield from tryptamine. The synthesis features the use of ruthenium catalytic asymmetric hydrogen reaction to introduce the chirality in dihydro-β-carboline 2. Based on Noyori’s work, the hydrogenation using the (R,R)-TsDPEN-Ru complex produces dihydro-β-carbolines possessing the (S) absolute configuration, the corrected asymmetric center of the natural product. The synthetic quinolactacin B displayed optical rotations that was in accordance with that of the natural product, thereby supporting the (S) configuration for natural quinolactacin B. The final product’s stereochemical assignment is in agreement with that proposed by Nakagawa and co-workers.     

Synthesis of polyhydroxylated indolizidines and piperidines from Garner's aldehyde: total synthesis of (−)-swainsonine, (+)-1,2-di-epi-swainsonine, (+)-8,8a-di-epi-castanospermine,pentahydroxy indolizidines, (−)-1-deoxynojirimycin, (−)-1-deoxy-altro-nojirimycin,and related diversity

Diastereoselective and diverse synthesis of polyhydroxylated indolizidines and piperidines have been described, where a common chiral intermediate 2-(hydroxymethyl) piperidine-3-ol is converted into (−)-swainsonine, (+)-1,2-di-epi-swainsonine, (+)-8,8a-di-epi-castanospermine, pentahydroxy indolizidines, (−)-1-deoxynojirimycin, (−)-1-deoxy-altro-nojirimycin, and related diversity. The key steps were hydroxy directed intramolecular aminomercuration, Mitsunobu cyclization, and diastereoselective dihydroxylation.     

Concise asymmetric synthesis of (R)-(+)-tanikolide

A highly stereoselective total synthesis of (R)-(+)-tanikolide, a δ-lactonic marine natural product, was accomplished in seven steps from easily available starting materials with a 51% overall yield. An asymmetric synthesis of an α-hydroxy aldehyde having a stereogenic quaternary center, by the use of (S)-2-(anilinomethyl)pyrrolidine as a chiral auxiliary, was employed in a key step.     

Syntheses of (−)-gabosine A, (+)-4-epi-gabosine A, (−)-gabosine E, and (+)-4-epi-gabosine E

(+)-4-epi-Gabosine A 1 and (−)-gabosine A 2 have been synthesized starting from methyl α,d-glucopyranoside and methyl α,d-mannopyranoside, respectively, by utilizing Pd(0) catalyzed Stille coupling as the key step. On the other hand, syntheses of (+)-4-epi-gabosine E 3 and (−)-gabosine E 4 have been accomplished from methyl α,d-glucopyranoside and from methyl α,d-mannopyranoside, respectively, by utilizing DMAP catalyzed Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction as the key step. Presence of acetyl group at C-6 position of sugar derived cyclic enone prevented the aromatization of MBH adduct. A plausible mechanism is also described.