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.     

First enantioselective synthesis of (-)- and (+)-virgatusin, tetra-substituted tetrahydrofuran lignan

The first highly enantioselective syntheses of tetra-substituted tetrahydrofuran lignan, (-)- and (+)-virgatusin, were achieved. Hemiacetal was stereoselectively obtained from Evans's syn-aldol product as a single isomer. This hemiacetal was converted to (-)-virgatusin via hydrogenolysis. (+)-Virgatusin was also synthesized through the same process. The enantiomeric excess of the both enantiomers was determined as more than 99% ee.     

The first synthesis of (-)-asperpentyn and efficient syntheses of (+)-harveynone, (+)-epiepoformin and (-)-theobroxide

A generally applicable strategy for the synthesis of a range of polyoxygenated cyclohexane natural products has been developed. The enantioselective syntheses of (-)-theobroxide, a polyoxygenated cyclohexane natural compound with potent growth inducing properties in potato microtubers has been achieved via a 1,2 O-silyl migration between trans-hydroxyl groups and a remote hydroxyl directed epoxidation of an enone derived from quinic acid. A thus derived alpha-iodoenone was subjected to Stille coupling with tetramethylstannane to afford the first title compound. A similar strategy enabled a route to the complete asymmetric synthesis of the acetylenic phytotoxin (+)-harveynone. By selective reduction of (-)-theobroxide, (+)-epiepoformin was also prepared in enantiopure form and similarly, stereoselective reduction of (+)-harveynone completed the first enantioselective synthesis of (-)-asperpentyn, another natural compound with antimicrobial activity.     

Enantioselective total syntheses of (+)-arborescidine A, (-)-arborescidine B, and (-)-arborescidine C

Described are the first enantioselective total syntheses of (+)-arborescidine A ((+)-1), (-)-arborescidine B ((-)-2), and (-)-arborescidine C ((-)-3), via routes that proceeded in five steps and 50% overall yield, eight steps and 61% overall yield, and nine steps and 51% overall yield, respectively, from 6-bromotryptamine (7). The syntheses feature the use of the Noyori catalytic asymmetric hydrogen-transfer reaction to introduce chirality in dihydro-beta-carbolines 6 and 8. On the basis of an ample precedent from Noyori's work, the reduction produces dihydro-beta-carbolines, and ultimately the natural products, possessing the R absolute configuration. The synthetic arborescidines displayed optical rotations that were opposite in sign those of the natural products, thereby supporting the S configuration for natural arborescidines A (1) and B (2) and the (3S,17S) configuration for natural arborescidine C (3). Our results are in agreement with the initial stereochemical assignment by Pa?s and co-workers, and are counter to their recently revised assignment.     

Synthesis of (-)-Vulcanolide by enantioselective protonation

Two efficient enantioselective syntheses of the more active (S,S)-enantiomer of the powerful musk odorant Vulcanolide are described. In both syntheses, the key step is an enantioselective protonation of a ketone enolate. A third enantioselective protonation, of a thiol ester enolate, was applied for the determination of the absolute configuration of Vulcanolide by comparison with a known compound.     

Total syntheses of enantiomerically enriched R-(+)- and S-(-)-deplancheine

Total syntheses of indoloquinolizidine alkaloid (+/-)-, R-(+)-, and S-(-)-deplancheine are described here. The synthesis features an enantioselective intramolecular formal aza-[3 + 3] cycloaddition for the construction of the quinolizidine CD-ring. This application serves to introduce a new synthetic strategy for the synthesis of indoloquinolizidine alkaloids.     

Effect of ligand structure on the zinc-catalyzed Henry reaction. Asymmetric syntheses of (-)-denopamine and (-)-arbutamine

[reaction: see text] Syntheses of variously modified ligands for the dinuclear zinc catalysts for the asymmetric aldol and nitroaldol (Henry) reactions are reported. Catalytic enantioselective nitroaldol reactions promoted by these modified ligands led to efficient syntheses of the beta-receptor agonists (-)-denopamine and (-)-arbutamine.     

An efficient protocol for the enantioselective preparation of a key polyfunctionalized cyclohexane. New access to (R)- and (S)-4-Hydroxy-2-cyclohexenone and (R)- and (S)-trans-cyclohex-2-ene-1,4-diol

Starting from very accessible raw materials such as p-methoxyphenol, ethylene glycol, and thiophenol, a protocol has been developed to prepare multigram quantities of the polyfunctionalized cyclohexane (+/-)- 7. A highly efficient resolution of (+/-)- 7 has been achieved through enantioselective acetylation catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B. Straightforward and enantioselective syntheses of 4-hydroxy-2-cyclohexenone, 1, trans-cyclohex-2-ene-1,4-diol, 2, and their O-protected derivatives 18 and 19 have been readily accomplished from 7.     

Stereospecific construction of substituted piperidines. Synthesis of (-)-paroxetine and (+)-laccarin

Short and efficient enantioselective syntheses of (-)-paroxetine and (+)-laccarin are described based on the highly stereospecific cleavage of C(3)-substituted 1,3-cyclic sulfamidates.     

Enantioselective total syntheses of (-)-palau'amine, (-)-axinellamines, and (-)-massadines

Dimeric pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids represent a rich and topologically unique class of marine natural products. This full account will follow the progression of efforts that culminated in the enantioselective total syntheses of the most structurally ornate members of this family: the axinellamines, the massadines, and palau'amine. A bio-inspired approach capitalizing on the pseudo-symmetry of the members of this class is recounted, delivering a deschloro derivative of the natural product core. Next, the enantioselective synthesis of the chlorocyclopentane core featuring a scalable, catalytic, enantioselective Diels-Alder reaction of a 1-siloxydiene is outlined in detail. Finally, the successful divergent conversion of this core to each of the aforementioned natural products, and the ensuing methodological developments, are described.     

Asymmetric syntheses of (-)-mitorubrin and related azaphilone natural products

Asymmetric syntheses of (-)-mitorubrin and related azaphilone natural products are reported. Key steps involve copper-mediated, enantioselective oxidative dearomatization to prepare the azaphilone core and olefin cross-metathesis for side-chain installation. [reaction: see text]     

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.     

Enantioselective synthesis of 1-(R)-hydroxypolygodial and its 9α epimer, 1-(R)-hydroxyisotadeonal

The enantioselective synthesis of 1-(R)-hydroxypolygodial and its epimer at C-9 is described. α-Ionone was the starting material. Key steps of these syntheses included a Corey-Bakshi-Shibata oxazaborolidine-mediated reduction and a stereoselective Diels-Alder reaction. No vanilloid activity was detected for both compounds in assays on VR1 vanilloid receptor in HEK cells transfected with the human VR1.     

Concise total synthesis and stereochemical revision of all (-)-trigonoliimines

The concise and enantioselective total syntheses of (-)-trigonoliimines A, B, and C are described. Our unified strategy to all three natural products is based on asymmetric oxidation and reorganization of a single bistryptamine, a sequence of transformations with possible biogenetic relevance. We revise the absolute stereochemistry of (-)-trigonoliimines A, B, and C.     

Nucleophilic addition to 3-substituted pyridinium salts: expedient syntheses of (-)-L-733,061 and (-)-CP-99,994

[reaction: see text] The addition of nucleophiles to 3-substituted pyridinium salts prepared from N-methylbenzamide and various pyridines has been investigated. Good to excellent regioselectivities favoring the 2,3-disubstituted 1,2-dihydropyridines were observed. The resulting 1,2-dihydropyridines led to the corresponding 2,3-disubstituted pyridines upon treatment with Mn(OAc)3/NaIO4. This methodology was also successfully applied to the enantioselective syntheses of (-)-L-733,061 and (-)-CP-99,994, two members of a new class of highly potent, nonpeptide, Substance P antagonists.     

delta-Amino beta-keto esters, a designed polyfunctionalized chiral building block for alkaloid synthesis. Asymmetric synthesis of (R)-(+)-2-phenylpiperidine and (-)-SS20846A

[formula: see text] delta-Amino beta-keto esters 3 and 11 are designed polyfunctionalized chiral building blocks for alkaloid synthesis and are prepared in one step from the corresponding sulfinimine (N-sulfinyl imine). Concise highly enantioselective four-step syntheses of 2-phenylpiperidine (7) and SS20846A (14) from 3 and 11, respectively, are described.     

The lyconadins: enantioselective total syntheses of (+)-lyconadin A and (-)-lyconadin B

A full account of the enantioselective total syntheses of (+)-lyconadin A (1) and (-)-lyconadin B (2) is presented. Central to this venture was recognition and deployment of a key strategy-level intramolecular aldol/conjugate addition cascade that led, in a single operation, to two new carbon-carbon sigma-bonds, three new stereogenic centers, and two new rings, albeit with the incorrect stereogenicity at C(12) for the lyconadins. Correction of the C(12) stereogenicity was achieved via innovative use of a protonated intramolecular aminal. An aminoiodo olefin cyclization, in conjunction with alpha-pyridinone and 3,4-dihydropyridinone annulation protocols, permitted completion of the syntheses of (+)-lyconadin A (1) and (-)-lyconadin B (2), respectively.     

Asymmetric syntheses of the homalium alkaloids (-)-(s,s)-homaline and (-)-(r,r)-hopromine

The highly diastereoselective conjugate additions of the novel lithium amide reagents lithium (R)-N-(3-chloropropyl)-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide and lithium (R)-N-(3-chloropropyl)-N-(α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl)amide to α,β-unsaturated esters were used as the key steps in syntheses of the homalium alkaloids (-)-(S,S)-homaline and (-)-(R,R)-hopromine. The asymmetric synthesis of (-)-(S,S)-homaline was achieved in 8 steps and 18% overall yield, and the asymmetric synthesis of (-)-(R,R)-hopromine was achieved in 9 steps and 23% overall yield, from commercially available starting materials in each case. These syntheses therefore represent by far the most efficient total asymmetric syntheses of these alkaloids reported to date. A sample of the (4'R,4'S)-epimer of hopromine was also produced using this approach, which provided the first unambiguous confirmation of its absolute configuration and therefore that of natural (-)-(R,R)-hopromine.     

Cu(I) catalysed cyclopropanation with enantiopure scorpionate type ligands derived from (+)-camphor or (-)-menthone

One-pot syntheses of three new enantiopure heteroscorpionate ligands derived from (+)-camphor or (-)-menthone are described. The ligands are obtained by reacting pyrazoles derived from (+)-camphor or (-)-menthone with sodium hydride and thionyl chloride. Subsequent reactions with pyridine and various aldehydes afford the tripod ligands in multi-gram amounts. Especially the menthopyrazole based ligand 6 showed encouraging ee values up to 69% in the Cu(I) catalysed enantioselective cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate.     

First enantioselective syntheses of (+)- and (-)-wilforonide by using chiral auxiliaries derived from the same chiral source

[see structure]. The first enantioselective syntheses of both (+)-wilforonide (>98% ee) and (-)-wilforonide (>98% ee) have been accomplished by employing chiral auxiliaries derived from the same chiral source, (R)-pulegone. The bicyclic skeleton of wilforonide was constructed by using Mn(III)-based oxidative radical cyclization reactions of chiral beta-keto esters. The absolute configuration of natural wilforonide has been established to be (5aR,9aR).