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.     

Stereoselective synthesis of swainsonines from pyridines

An efficient synthesis of (−)-swainsonine and (−)-2,8a-di-epi-swainsonine was developed starting from readily available 2-pyridinecarbaldehyde and 3-hydroxypyridine. In particular, it was demonstrated that the mixture of simple indolizidines, i.e. lentiginosine and epi-lentiginosine, being readily available by a number of different synthetic routes, can be directly converted to swainsonine.     

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.     

The enantioselective synthesis of poison-frog alkaloids (−)-203A, (−)-209B, (−)-231C, (−)-233D, and (−)-235B″

The enantioselective synthesis of indolizidines (−)-203A, (−)-209B, (−)-231C, (−)-233D, and (−)-235B″ has been achieved and the absolute stereochemistry of both indolizidines 203A and 233D was established as 5S,8R,9S. The relative stereochemistry of natural 231C was established by the present asymmetric synthesis.     

The combined use of stereoelectronic control and ring closing metathesis for the synthesis of (−)-8-epi-swainsonine

A novel and efficient synthesis of (−)-8-epi-swainsonine 2 is reported. Stereocontrolled diol formation from the bicyclic alkene 3 followed by a stereoselective vinylation of the aldehyde and ring closing metathesis gave the indolizidine ring system, which was converted into (−)-8-epi-swainsonine 2.     

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).     

Intramolecular α-acylamino radical cyclizations with acylsilanes in the preparation of polyhydroxylated alkaloids: (+)-lentiginosine, (+)-1,8a-di-epi-lentiginosine, and (+)-1,2-di-epi-swainsonine

Acylsilanes with latent α-acylamino radical functionality were prepared from different chiral templates. Radical cyclizations of these acylsilanes efficiently constructed polyhydroxylated indolizidine derivatives with excellent stereoselectivity at the bridgehead position. These cyclization products were converted to (+)-lentiginosine, (+)-1,8a-di-epi-lentiginosine, and (+)-1,2-di-epi-swainsonine.     

Total syntheses of (+)- and (−)-syringolides 3 and of (+)- and (−)-syributins 1, 2 and 3

The first total syntheses of (−)-syringolide 3, (+)-syributin 3 and their unnatural enantiomers (+)-syringolide 3 and (−)-syributin 3 using a common intermediate as starting material are described. In addition, total syntheses of (−)- and (+)-syributins 1 and 2 were accomplished by means of the same methodology.     

A diastereodivergent strategy for the asymmetric syntheses of (−)-martinellic acid and (−)-4-epi-martinellic acid

Asymmetric syntheses of (−)-martinellic acid and (−)-4-epi-martinellic acid were achieved in 20 steps from commercially available starting materials using a diastereodivergent strategy. The conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-allyl-N-(α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl)amide to tert-butyl (E)-3-[2′-(N,N-diallylamino)-5′-bromophenyl]propenoate and alkylation of the resultant β-amino ester with methyl bromoacetate were used as the key steps to install the C(9b) and C(3a) stereogenic centres, respectively. Subsequent cyclisation to the corresponding pyrroloquinolin-2-one and reduction of the C(4)-carbonyl group was followed by two complementary procedures for olefination and concomitant intramolecular Michael addition, which gave both C(4)-epimers of this tricyclic molecular architecture in >99:1 dr. Subsequent elaboration of these templates provided access to (−)-martinellic acid and, for the first time, (−)-4-epi-martinellic acid.     

The synthesis of (−)-varitriol and (−)-3′-epi-varitriol via a Ramberg-Bäcklund route

A concise route to the anti-tumour natural product (−)-varitriol, together with its novel isomer (−)-3′-epi-varitriol, is described using a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE)/conjugate addition/Ramberg-Bäcklund sequence as the cornerstone. The flexibility of the synthetic route has been demonstrated by the preparation of novel varitriol analogues.     

Enantiodivergent synthesis of cytotoxic styryl lactones from d-xylose. The first total synthesis of (+)- and (−)-crassalactone C

Enantiodivergent total syntheses of both (+)- and (−)-enantiomers of goniofufurone, 7-epi-goniofufurone and crassalactone C have been accomplished starting from d-xylose. The key steps of the synthesis of 7-epi-(+)-goniofufurone were a stereo-selective addition of phenyl magnesium bromide to a protected dialdose, and a stereospecific furano-lactone ring formation by reaction of a related hemiacetal derivative with Meldrum's acid. Synthesis of both (+)-goniofufurone and (+)-crassalactone C required a configurational inversion at C-5 in the common intermediate that was efficiently achieved under the standard Mitsunobu conditions, or alternatively through a sequential oxidation of the benzylic hydroxyl group followed by a stereo-selective reduction with borohydride. A similar approach was then applied to the synthesis of the unnatural (−)-enantiomers of goniofufurone, 7-epi-goniofufurone and crassalactone C, as well as two novel, conformationally constrained analogues of both (+)- and (−)-goniofufurone. Their in vitro antiproliferative activities against a number of human tumour cell lines were recorded and compared with those observed for the parent natural products.     

Total synthesis of (+)-valienamine and (−)-1-epi-valienamine via a highly diastereoselective allylic amination of cyclic polybenzyl ether using chlorosulfonyl isocyanate

The total synthesis of (+)-valienamine and (−)-1-epi-valienamine was concisely accomplished from readily available d-glucose via a highly diastereoselective amination of chiral benzylic ether using chlorosulfonyl isocyanate, intramolecular olefin metathesis, and diastereoselective reduction of cyclic enone using l-Selectride as the key steps.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (R)-(+)-1-methoxyspirobrassinin, (2R,3R)-(−)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether and their enantiomers or diastereoisomers

Stereoselective synthesis of cruciferous indole phytoalexin (R)-(+)-1-methoxyspirobrassinin and its unnatural (S)-(−)-enantiomer was achieved by spirocyclization of 1-methoxybrassinin in the presence of (+)- and (−)-menthol and subsequent oxidation of the obtained menthyl ethers. Methanolysis of menthyl ethers in the presence of TFA afforded (2R,3R)-(−)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether as well its unnatural (2S,3S)-, (2R,3S)-, and (2S,3R)-isomers.     

Organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of quinolizidine alkaloids (+)-myrtine, (−)-lupinine, and (+)-epiepiquinamide

The organocatalytic synthesis of quinolizidine alkaloids (+)-myrtine, (−)-lupinine, and (+)-epiepiquinamide is described. It involved, as the key step, an enantioselective intramolecular aza-Michael reaction (IMAMR) catalyzed by Jørgensen catalyst I, affording the common precursor with high enantioselectivity. This compound was subsequently transformed into the three alkaloids in a highly diastereoselective manner.     

A concise synthesis of (−)-cytoxazone and (−)-4-epi-cytoxazone using chlorosulfonyl isocyanate

A concise synthesis of (−)-cytoxazone and its stereoisomer (−)-4-epi-cytoxazone, novel cytokine modulators, has been accomplished each in six steps from readily available p-anisaldehyde with good diastereoselectivity. Key steps in the synthesis include the regioselective and diastereoselective amination of anti- and syn-1,2-dimethyl ethers with chlorosulfonyl isocyanate and the subsequent regioselective cyclization of the diol to construct the oxazolidin-2-one core. The diastereoselectivity of amination reaction using CSI was explained by the Cieplak electronic model via S_N1 mechanism and neighboring group effect, leading to the retention of the configuration.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (−)-cytoxazone and (+)-epi-cytoxazone

Optically pure (−)-cytoxazone was synthesized, starting from methyl p-methoxycinnamate, in six steps and in 31% overall yield. The required anti-aminoalcohol configuration was established by combining Sharpless asymmetric aminohydroxylation with the configurational inversion of the intermediate amidoalcohol via an oxazoline. The synthesis of (+)-epi-cytoxazone is also described.     

Preparation of 4- and 6-desphenyl analogues of (−)-clausenamide and alternative synthesis of (+)-epi-clausenamide

4- and 6-desphenyl analogues of(-)-clausenamide,6 and 7,were prepared in optical active form from commercially available D-pyroglutamic acid and the known racemic pyrrolidinone 13,respectively.In order to confirm the absolute stereochemistry of(+)-and (-)-7,intermediate 19b was transferred into the(+)-epi-clausenamide 8.     

A concise route to (−)-shikimic acid and (−)-5-epi-shikimic acid, and their enantiomers via Barbier reaction and ring-closing metathesis

A simple route for the synthesis of naturally occurring (−)-shikimic acid, (−)-5-epi-shikimic acid, and their enantiomers from d-ribose-derived enantiomeric aldehydes 8a and 8b by employing Barbier reaction and ring-closing metathesis as key steps has been developed.     

Total syntheses of (+)- and (−)-1,3,4,5-tetragalloylapiitol and revision of absolute configuration of naturally occurring (−)-1,3,4,5-tetragalloylapiitol

The total syntheses of (+)- and (−)-1,3,4,5-tetragalloylapiitol were achieved in seven steps from d- and l-ribose, respectively. By comparing the optical rotations of both enantiomers with those of the natural product, the absolute configuration at C-3 in the naturally occurring 1,3,4,5-tetragalloylapiitol has been revised to R. The absolute configurations at C-3 in the synthetic (+)- and (−)-1,3,4,5-tetragalloylapiitol were further confirmed by the circular dichroism exciton chirality method.     

New asymmetric strategy for the total synthesis of naturally occurring (+)-alexine and (−)-7-epi-alexine

A novel and highly convenient process is described for the asymmetric synthesis of polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidine alkaloids, (+)-alexine [(1R,2R,3R,7S,7aS)-3-hydroxymethyl-1,2,7-trihydroxypyrrolizidine] and (−)-7-epi-alexine [(1R,2R,3R,7R,7aS)-3-hydroxymethyl-1,2,7-trihydroxypyrrolizidine], as the potent glycosidase inhibitors by featuring the efficient and stereodefined elaboration of the functionalized pyrrolidine derivatives, which were, in turn, prepared via stereoselective manipulation of the homochiral allyl alcohol precursors derived from l-xylose.