Total synthesis of (-)- and ent-(+)-vindoline

[reaction: see text] Two exceptionally concise total syntheses of (-)- and ent-(+)-vindoline are detailed enlisting a diastereoselective tandem [4 + 2]/[3 + 2] cycloaddition of a 1,3,4-oxadiazole. The unique reaction cascade assembles the fully functionalized pentacyclic ring system of vindoline in a single step that forms four C-C bonds and three rings while introducing all requisite functionality and setting all six stereocenters within the central ring including three contiguous and four total quaternary centers.     

Total synthesis of (-)- and (+)-lentiginosine

Total synthesis of (-)-lentiginosine was achieved from D-mannitol using highly stereoselective reactions. Similarly, (+)-lentiginosine was synthesized from L-tartaric acid.     

Total synthesis of (-)- and (+)-dysibetaine

Glycidamides 6R and 6S were elaborated to (R,R)- and (S,S)-dysibetaines (1R and 1S) by intramolecular alkylation and functional group modification in 23% overall yield. The absolute stereochemistry of natural dysibetaine was established as S,S by comparison of the optical rotation of the natural product with that of the synthetic materials.     

Total synthesis of (-)- and (+)-membrenone C

[reaction: see text] A synthesis of the polypropionate marine defense substance (+)-membrenone C and its enantiomer that starts from (S)-2-methyl-3-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)propanal is described. Key steps include (1) additions of chiral allenylmetal reagents to effect both chain homologation and the concomitant introduction of four stereo centers, (2) a bis-intramolecular hydrosilylation-oxidation sequence to install beta-hydroxy ketone subunits, and (3) a bis-intramolecular aldol reaction to construct the two dihydropyrone termini.     

Total syntheses of Lycopodium alkaloids (+)-fawcettimine, (+)-fawcettidine, and (-)-8-deoxyserratinine

A shared story: Three fawcettimine- and serratinine-type Lycopodium alkaloids are prepared from a common tetracyclic spirodiketone intermediate in concise total syntheses. The intermediate was constructed by a remarkable biosynthesis-inspired transannular N-C bond formation to the spiro-configured carbon center and a hydroxy-directed pinacol coupling promoted by SmI(2).     

Total synthesis of (-)-barbatusol, (+)-demethylsalvicanol, (-)-brussonol, and (+)-grandione

The icetexane-based diterpenes (-)-barbatusol, (+)-demethylsalvicanol, and (-)-brussonol were synthesized. Synthetic demethylsalvicanol was dimerized to produce (+)-grandione using aqueous Diels-Alder conditions.     

Total synthesis of (S)-(+)-curcudiol, and (S)-(+)- and (R)-(-)-curcuphenol.

A highly enantioselective synthesis of the versatile chiral synthons possessing one stereogenic center, (S)- and (R)-4-aryl-5-hydroxy-(2E)-pentenoate (3) was achieved based on the enzymatic reaction of (+/-)-3 with commercially available lipases MY-30 or OF-360 from Candida rugosa. Application of (S)-3 and (R)-3 to the total syntheses of(S)-curcuphenol (1), (S)-curcudiol (2), and (R)-curcuphenol (1), respectively, is described.     

Total syntheses of (+)-temisin, (+)-melitensin and related elemanolides from (-)-artemisin

(+)-Temisin, (+)-melitensin, and related sesquiterpene lactones have been synthesized from (-)-artemisin.     

Total synthesis of (-)-incarvilline, (+)-incarvine C, and (-)-incarvillateine

The first total syntheses of new monoterpene alkaloids (-)-incarvilline, (+)-incarvine C, and (-)-incarvillateine, corresponding to the natural enantiomers, have been accomplished. The strategy for the synthesis of these natural products utilized 6-epi-incarvilline as a common precursor, which was assembled by a three-component coupling reaction using (4S)-4-siloxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one to construct an appropriately trisubstituted cyclopentanone, followed by ring closure to the cis-perhydro-2-pyrindine skeleton by means of a reductive Heck-type reaction. Furthermore, topochemically controlled [2 + 2] photodimerization of cinnamic acid derivatives in the solid state for the stereospecific construction of a 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted cyclobutane ring was also investigated as a means to access (-)-incarvillateine.     

Total synthesis of (S)-(+)-ent-phomapyrones B and surugapyrone B

Phomapyrone B ( 1 ), the 2-pyrones isolated from the phytopathogenic fungus Leptosphaeria maculans, has been synthesized as the enantiomeric form starting from (S)-2-methylbutanol ( 4 ). Surugapyrone B ( 3 ) isolated from Streptmyces sp. USF-6280 as an antioxidant has also been synthesized as a natural form. The absolute configuration of phomapyrone B ( 1 ) was estimated to be the (R)-form and that of surugapyrone B ( 3 ) being the (S)-form. A series of 2-pyrone derivatives 17 have been synthesized through the established procedure and their DPPH radical-scavenging activities have also been evaluated.     

Total synthesis of (-)-spirotryprostatin B: synthesis and related studies

The total synthesis of spirotryprostatin B, a cytostatic spiro[pyrrolidine-3,3'-oxindole] alkaloid, is described. The key step of the synthetic approach consists of the application of the MgI2-mediated ring-expansion reaction of a spiro[cyclopropane-1,3'-oxindole] with an aldimine, leading to rapid assembly of the spirotryprostatin core. The route documents the installation of the prenyl side chain by Julia-Kocieński olefination of a key aldehyde precursor, a transformation that ultimately allows for facile synthesis of analogues and facilitates structure-activity relationships studies.     

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.     

Total syntheses of the Securinega alkaloids (+)-14,15-dihydronorsecurinine, (-)-norsecurinine, and phyllanthine

A new strategy for enantiospecific construction of the Securinega alkaloids has been developed and applied in total syntheses of (+)-14,15-dihydronorsecurinine (8), (-)-norsecurinine (6), and phyllanthine (2). The B-ring and C7 absolute stereochemistry of these biologically active alkaloids originated from trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline (10), which was converted to ketonitrile 13 via a high-yielding eight-step sequence. Treatment of this ketonitrile with SmI2 afforded the 6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane B/C-ring system 14, which is a key advanced intermediate for all three synthetic targets. Annulation of the A-ring of (-)-norsecurinine (6) with the required C2 configuration via an N-acyliminium ion alkylation was accomplished using radical-based amide oxidation methodology developed in these laboratories as a key step, providing tricycle 33. Annulation of the D-ring onto alpha-hydroxyketone 33 with the Bestmann ylide 45 at 12 kbar gave (+)-14,15-dihydronorsecurinine (8). In the securinine series, the D-ring was incorporated using an intramolecular Wadsworth-Horner-Emmons olefination of phenylselenylated alpha-hydroxyketone 47. The C14,15 unsaturation was installed late in the synthesis by an oxidative elimination of the selenoxide derived from tetracyclic butenolide 50 to give (-)-norsecurinine (6). The A-ring of phyllanthine (2) was formed from hydroxyketone 14 using a stereoselective Yb(OTf)3-promoted hetero Diels-Alder reaction of the derived imine 34 with Danishefsky's diene, affording adduct 35. Conjugate reduction and stereoselective equatorial ketone reduction of vinylogous amide 35 provided tricyclic intermediate 36, which could then be elaborated in a few steps to stable hydroxyenone 53 via alpha-selenophenylenone intermediate 52. The D-ring was then constructed, again using an intramolecular Wadsworth-Horner-Emmons olefination reaction to give phyllanthine (2).     

Asymmetric synthesis of bioactive hydrodibenzofuran alkaloids: (-)-lycoramine, (-)-galanthamine, and (+)-lunarine

Divergent route: A direct C?C bond-forming approach to the key aryl-substituted all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center present in bioactive hydrodibenzofuran alkaloids has been discovered. This approach involves an unprecedented organocatalytic enantioselective Michael addition of α-cyanoketones with acrylates and was used in a novel and divergent synthetic strategy for the title compounds in asymmetric fashion.     

Total synthesis and absolute stereochemical assignment of (+)- and (-)-galbulimima alkaloid 13

We describe the total synthesis of (+)- and (-)-galbulimima alkaloid 13. The absolute stereochemistry of natural (-)-galbulimima alkaloid 13 is revised to 2S. Sequential use of catalytic cross-coupling and cross-metathesis reactions followed by an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction provided the required trans-decalin AB-ring system and masked the C16 carbonyl as an N-vinyl carbamate for late-stage unveiling in the form of the necessary C16 enone. A vinyl radical cyclization secured the C-ring, while successful execution of our strategy for introduction of the CDE-ring system in complex galbulimima alkaloids provided the target pentacycle with complete diastereoselection.     

Total syntheses of (-)- and (+)-goniomitine

The Stille coupling reaction of 3-(benzyloxymethyl)-1-(tert-butyldiphenylsiloxy)ethyl-1-(tributylstannyl)allene with N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-iodoaniline directly produced the corresponding 2-vinylindole derivative, which was independently transformed into natural (-)-goniomitine and unnatural (+)-goniomitine via the cross-metathesis with chiral oxazolopiperidone lactams. The antiproliferative activity of the synthesized natural (-)-goniomitine in Mock and MDCK/MDR1 cells showed them to be more potent to retard cell growth than unnatural (+)-goniomitine.     

Total synthesis of (+)-13-deoxytedanolide

In this communication we describe the first total synthesis of (+)-13-deoxytedanolide, an architecturally complex marine macrolide possessing significant antitumor activity. The cornerstone of the synthesis comprises a highly convergent dithiane coupling used to construct the carbon skeleton, followed by a novel use of the Evans-Tishchenko reduction to oxidize the C(1) aldehyde to an ester in the presence of the oxidatively labile dithiane.