A new approach to highly substituted cyclopentanoids from a concise formal synthesis of (+)-roseophilin

A convergent reaction sequence involving a reductive coupling and a chiral Br?nsted acid catalyzed Nazarov reaction is utilized in a concise formal synthesis of (+)-roseophilin (11 steps via longest linear sequence, 10.2% yield, 95% ee).     

Revisiting a classic approach to the Aspidosperma alkaloids: an intramolecular Schmidt reaction mediated synthesis of (+)-aspidospermidine

[reaction: see text] A total synthesis of (+)-aspidospermidine (1) is described. The key reactions used in the synthesis of this pentacyclic Aspidosperma alkaloid were a deracemizing imine alkylation/Robinson annulation sequence, a selective "redox ketalization", and an intramolecular Schmidt reaction. A Fischer indolization step carried out on a tricyclic ketone mirrored the sequence reported by Stork and Dolfini in their classic aspidospermine synthesis.     

Synthesis of polycyclic benzofused nitrogen heterocycles via a tandem ynamide benzannulation/ring-closing metathesis strategy. Application in a formal total synthesis of (+)-FR900482

A two-stage "tandem strategy" for the synthesis of benzofused nitrogen heterocycles is described that is particularly useful for the construction of systems with a high level of substitution on the benzenoid ring. The first stage in the strategy involves a benzannulation based on the reaction of cyclobutenones with ynamides. This cascade process proceeds via a sequence of four pericyclic reactions and furnishes a multiply substituted aniline derivative which can bear a variety of functionalized substituents at the position ortho to the nitrogen. In the second stage of the tandem strategy, ring-closing metathesis generates the nitrogen heterocyclic ring. This two-step sequence provides efficient access to highly substituted dihydroquinolines, benzazepines, benzazocines, and related benzofused nitrogen heterocyclic systems. The application of this chemistry in a concise formal total synthesis of the anticancer agents (+)-FR900482 and (+)-FR66979 is described.     

First practical asymmetric synthesis of R-(−)-and s-(+)-mevalonolactones from a single achiral precursor

A new asymmetric synthesis of R-(?)- and S-(+)- mevalonolactones is described. Starting from a single achiral precursor, the synthesis proceeds by a nine-steps sequence, $\text{via}$ Sharpless epoxidation of an appropriate allylic alcohol.     

Total synthesis of (+)-aspidospermidine: a new strategy for the enantiospecific synthesis of aspidosperma alkaloids

A new strategy was developed for the enantiospecific synthesis of aspidosperma alkaloids. The key steps involve a novel ketene-lactonization reaction of a chiral vinyl sulfoxide to efficiently set up the quaternary carbon center, and a tandem Michael addition-alkylation reaction sequence to form the polycyclic core structure. This new strategy was employed in the total synthesis of natural product (+)-aspidospermidine.     

A short synthetic route to (+)-austamide, (+)-deoxyisoaustamide,and (+)-hydratoaustamide from a common precursor by a novel palladium-mediated indole --> dihydroindoloazocine cyclization

The first synthesis of (+)-austamide (1), (+)-deoxyisoaustamide (2), and (+)-hydratoaustamide (10) by a very direct route is described (Scheme 1). Starting from tryptophan methyl ester (3) intermediate 5 is generated in two steps in >98% overall yield. The key step in the synthesis is a novel cyclization of 5 involving organopalladium intermediates which gives the dihydroazocine 6. From this key intermediate the target structures are accessible in just a few steps as shown in Scheme 1. The remarkable conversion of 5 --> 6 can be rationalized by the mechanistic pathway shown in Scheme 2 that involves a multistep sequence which includes palladation, cyclization, and rearrangement.     

Application of a domino intramolecular enyne metathesis/cross metathesis reaction to the total synthesis of (+)-8-epi-xanthatin

[reaction: see text] The first total synthesis of the novel sesquiterpene lactone (+)-8-epi-xanthatin (1) has been achieved starting from the commercially available ester 8. The synthesis features an asymmetric aldol reaction and palladium-catalyzed carbonylation/lactonization sequence leading to 4 and a domino ring-closing enyne metathesis/cross metathesis reaction to afford 1.     

A novel and enantioselective synthesis of d-(+)-biotin via a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation strategy

A novel and enantioselective synthesis of d-(+)-biotin has been accomplished starting from commercially available cyclohexanone. The key steps in the sequence are the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of a (E)-ethyl 3-(2-chlorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)acrylate derivative to establish the stereocenters of d-(+)-biotin, the carboxyalkyl side chain is introduced by unmasking the cyclohexene by ozonolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis of a thioacetate.     

Tandem single-step construction of chiral hexahydrophenanthrenes: a concise route to (+)-ferruginol

An efficient enantio- and diastereocontrolled construction of hydrophenanthrenes having either a quaternary or a tertiary benzylic stereogenic center has been developed by employing a tandem retro-aldol and intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation sequence. Its application to a diastereocontrolled synthesis of an abietane diterpenoid (+)-ferruginol has also been demonstrated.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-streptazolin by using a temporary silicon-tethered RCM strategy

A stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-streptazolin 1 was accomplished starting from readily available aminocyclopentenol (-)-7. The synthetic sequence highlights an intramolecular aldol condensation strategy to construct the piperidine core and a silicon-tethered ring-closing metathesis strategy to install the Z exocyclic ethylidene side chain of streptazolin. Separate protodesilylation and Tamao oxidation of a common intermediate 32 afforded streptazolin and the precursor for 13-hydroxystreptazolin. The overall yield for (+)-streptazolin 1 from aminocyclopentenol (-)-7 was 4.8% for a total of 16 steps.     

A stereocontrolled synthesis of (+)-saxitoxin

A concise stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-saxitoxin is described. A silver(I)-initiated hydroamination cascade constructs the bicyclic guanidinium ion core from a alkynyl bisguanidine. This sequence creates two C-N bonds, one C-O bond, and three rings and forms a single stereoisomer in a single synthetic transformation. This process enabled us to complete the synthesis of (+)-saxitoxin in 14 steps from N-Boc-l-serine methyl ester.     

First enantioselective synthesis and determination of the absolute configuration of natural (+)-dehydro-β-monocyclonerolidol

The enantioselective synthesis and determination of the absolute configuration of (+)-dehydro-β-monocyclonerolidol, a natural product isolated from the liverwort P. subobtusa, has been achieved starting from (+)-karahana lactone as an enantiopure building block. Furthermore, the methodology applied provided a new approach towards the known (+)-γ-cyclohomocitral, a key intermediate in the sequence, and natural (+)-pallescensone.     

Total synthesis of (+)-macquarimicin A

The first total synthesis of (+)-macquarimicin A (1), a novel inhibitor of neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase) with antiinflammatory activity, has been accomplished. The present work determined the absolute configuration of (+)-1 and revised the C(2)-C(3) geometry to be Z. The synthesis features a transannular Diels-Alder reaction, which constructed the tetracyclic framework stereoselectively, and a convergent and efficient synthetic pathway, which afforded (+)-macquarimicin A (1) in 27 steps (longest linear sequence) with 9.9% overall yield.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (−)-6-acetoxyhexadecanolide: a mosquito oviposition attractant pheromone

The stereoselective synthesis of (−)-6-acetoxyhexadecanolide was achieved from the readily available chiral pool compound, l-(+)-tartaric acid. The synthetic sequence includes the elaboration of an α-benzyloxy aldehyde derived from tartaric acid with ring closing metathesis as the key step.     

Total synthesis of (+)-acutiphycin

Synthetic studies toward the total synthesis of (+)-acutiphycin (1) resulted in the discovery of additive-free, highly regioselective nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling reactions of aldehydes and 1,6-enynes and the construction of an advanced intermediate in studies directed toward the synthesis of 1. Ultimately, although not employing the nickel-catalyzed reaction, a highly convergent total synthesis of (+)-acutiphycin featuring an intermolecular SmI2-mediated Reformatsky coupling reaction and macrolactonization initiated by a retro-ene reaction of an alkoxyalkyne was achieved. The resulting synthesis was 18 steps in the longest linear sequence from either methyl acetoacetate or isobutyraldehyde.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (+)-crocacin C. An example of a highly challenging mismatched double asymmetric δ-stannylcrotylboration reaction

A concise, enantioselective synthesis of (+)-crocacin C is described, featuring a highly diastereoselective mismatched double asymmetric δ-stannylcrotylboration of the stereochemically demanding chiral aldehyde 9 with the bifunctional crotylborane reagent (S)-E-10. The total synthesis of (+)-crocacin C was accomplished in seven steps (longest linear sequence) starting from commercially available precursors.     

Total synthesis of (+)-spongistatin 1. An effective second-generation construction of an advanced EF Wittig salt,fragment union,and final elaboration

A stereocontrolled, total synthesis of (+)-spongistatin 1 (1) has been achieved. Union of a second-generation EF Wittig salt (+)-3 with the advanced ABCD aldehyde (-)-4, followed by regioselective macrolactonization and global deprotection afforded (+)-spongistatin 1 (1). The longest linear sequence, 29 steps, proceeded in 0.5% overall yield.     

Total Synthesis of (+)‐ and (−)‐Decursivine and (±)‐Serotobenine through a Cascade Witkop Photocyclization/Elimination/Addition Sequence: Scope and Mechanistic Insights

In this article, the total syntheses of antimalarial compound decursivine and its biologically inactive sibling serotobenine are presented. The biomimetic synthesis of (±)‐serotobenine was investigated first, but failed. During the subsequent investigation of other synthetic routes, we discovered a new cascade Witkop photocyclization/elimination/addition sequence, which enabled the expedient synthesis of not only racemic decursivine and serotobenine, but also enantiopure (+)‐ and (?)‐decursivine and a variety of their analogues. The present syntheses represent the shortest pathway for the total synthesis of decursivine and serotobenine to date. Moreover, the newly developed cascade sequence for the total synthesis of decursivine does not need any protecting steps. The scope and the reaction mechanism of the cascade sequence were also studied. A rational mechanism for the cascade sequence is proposed, which is consistent with the previous studies and our current experimental results.     

Facile enantiospecific synthesis of (+)-iso-cladospolide B

Enantiospecific synthesis of bio-active butenolide (+)-iso-cladospolide B from d-(?)-tartaric acid in a short synthetic sequence is presented. Pivotal reaction sequence includes cross metathesis of an alkene and Wittig olefination.