Remarkable synthesis and structure of allene type zerumbone

The ring expansion of zerumbone to a 12-membered ring was studied via a ring opening system or a ring closure system of zerumbone. We succeeded in the synthesis of a zerumbone derivative with 12-membered ring, an allene type zerumbone. For the first time, a Doering-LaFlamme allene synthesis method was adopted and the structure was confirmed by monocrystal X-ray diffraction. It was obtained in total 27.7% yield from zerumbone. We believe that this compound is not only an important building block in synthesizing the BC ring of paclitaxel, but also plays an important role in a novel structure formation and a reactive discovery.     

Formal Synthesis of Sarain A: Intramolecular Cycloaddition of an Eight‐Membered Cyclic Nitrone to Construct the 2‐Azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane Framework

An enantioselective route to the tetracyclic skeleton of sarain A has been developed. Asymmetric reduction of an ynone introduced a chiral center which was transferred to the contiguous tertiary stereogenic centers through an Ireland–Claisen rearrangement. The 2‐azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane framework was constructed by an unprecedented intramolecular cycloaddition of an eight‐membered cyclic nitrone. Using the steric bias of the bicyclic system, the quaternary carbon atom was constructed by a stereoselective aldol reaction. Further ring formations were performed by ring‐closing metathesis for the 13‐membered ring and an iodoamidation reaction for the pyrrolidine ring. The present synthesis has successfully provided an alternative route to the late‐stage intermediate of Overman’s synthesis.     

Total synthesis of (+)-pinnatoxin A

A convergent enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-pinnatoxin A is described. The synthesis capitalizes on the highly diastereoselective Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of an acyclic alpha-branched allylic ester to set the quaternary stereogenic center at the core of the spiroimine ring system along with the adjacent tertiary stereocenter. The all-carbon macrocyclic ring system was formed by ring-closing metathesis.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-scopadulin.

The first total synthesis of (+/-)-scopadulin, an aphidicolane diterpene, is described. The core structure (A/B/C/D ring system) was constructed by an initial synthesis of the B/C/D ring system by our reported methods and a subsequent A ring cyclization by intramolecular aldol condensation. A highly stereoselective cyanation of the tetracyclic enone by Et2AlCN gave a trans-fused A/B ring system with a beta-cyanide at C-4. Stereoselective construction of a quaternary carbon at C-4 was achieved by alpha-alkylation of the cyano group and conversion of the sterically hindered cyano group to a methyl group via our novel reaction for conversion of primary aliphatic amines into alcohols. Finally, the total synthesis of (+/-)-scopadulin was accomplished by a highly chemo- and stereoselective methylation at C-16 and modification of the C-4 alpha-functionality. The stereoselectivity observed in the MeTi(O-i-Pr)3-mediated methylation for the generation of a tertiary axial alcohol at C-16 is extremely high.     

Convenient Approach to 10- and 11-Membered Azalactams

A convenient method for the synthesis of 10- and 11-membered azalactams via reductive cleavage of bicyclic systems featuring an amidine fragment was studied. It was found that the ring-expansion reaction of bicyclic dihydropyrimidones depends on the ring size of saturated fragment, substituents in the pyrimidone core and reaction conditions. A new efficient method for the synthesis of medium ring azalactams by reductive cleavage of quaternary salts of annulated dihydropyrimidones was proposed as well. The obtained medium ring azalactams with a secondary amine function were used in the synthesis of bicyclic heteroaromatic systems.     

Concise total synthesis of (+)-lyconadin a

The total synthesis of lyconadin A from (R)-5-methylcyclohex-2-enone was accomplished. Our synthesis features the facile construction of a highly fused tetracyclic compound through a combination of an aza-Prins reaction and an electrocyclic ring opening. Transformation of the bromoalkene moiety in the tetracycle could be achieved by either a vinylogous Pummerer rearrangement or the formation and subsequent isomerization of the nitrosoalkene to furnish an α,β-unsaturated ketone, from which the pyridone ring was constructed.     

Total synthesis of bryostatins: the development of methodology for the atom-economic and stereoselective synthesis of the ring C subunit

Bryostatins, a family of structurally complicated macrolides, exhibit an exceptional range of biological activities. The limited availability and structural complexity of these molecules makes development of an efficient total synthesis particularly important. This article describes our initial efforts towards the total synthesis of bryostatins, in which chemoselective and atom-economical methods for the stereoselective assembly of the ring C subunit were developed. A Pd-catalyzed tandem alkyne-alkyne coupling/6-endo-dig cyclization sequence was explored and successfully pursued in the synthesis of a dihydropyran ring system. Elaboration of this methodology ultimately led to a concise synthesis of the ring C subunit of bryostatins.     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)‐Ophiobolin A

The enantioselective total synthesis of (+)‐ophiobolin A is described. This total synthesis features the construction of the spiro CD ring of (+)‐ophiobolin A through a stereoselective intramolecular Hosomi–Sakurai cyclization reaction, the joining of the A ring to the CD ring by using a reaction reported by Utimoto, and the construction of the ophiobolin eight‐membered carbocyclic ring through ring‐closing metathesis (RCM), which was performed for the first time in this study. This successful RCM reaction required the use of a substrate that contained either a benzyloxy or a methoxymethoxy group at the C5 position and either an isopropenyl group or its hydroxylated form at the C6 position.     

Selective methodologies for the synthesis of biologically active piperidinic compounds

The synthesis of optically active substituted piperidines has been achieved by using four different methodologies. The first one is an intramolecular nucleophilic displacement of activated alcohol moieties that was used to build up the piperidine ring of (-)-prosophylline and (-)-slaframine, and the second one is a ring-closing metathesis of unsaturated amines which was employed in the synthesis of (+)-sedamine and 4a,5-dihydrostreptazoline. The third methodology is the alpha-functionalization of N-Boc piperidines which was particularly useful in the synthesis of argatroban, and the fourth one is a ring expansion of prolinols to 3-chloropiperidines or 3-hydroxypiperidines which was utilized to synthesize (-)-paroxetine, (-)-pseudoconhydrine, the piperidine ring of (-)-velbanamine and (+)-zamifenacin.     

Synthesis of cryptophycins via an N-acyl-beta-lactam macrolactonization

An efficient and concise approach to the synthesis of the macrolide core of the cryptophycins has been developed. A novel macrolactonization utilizing a reactive acyl-beta-lactam intermediate incorporates the beta-amino acid moiety within the 16-membered macrolide core. This modular approach, involving a cyanide-initiated acyl-beta-lactam ring opening followed by cyclization, was successfully applied to the total synthesis of cryptophycin-24. The strategy was also used in an efficient synthesis of the 6,6-dimethyl-substituted dechlorocryptophycin-52. In this case, the cyanide-initiated ring opening of the bis-substituted 2-azetidinone followed by macrolactonization was achieved through a catalytic process.     

Total Synthesis of Potent Antitumor Agent (−)‐Lasonolide A: A Cycloaddition‐Based Strategy

A detailed account of the enantioselective total synthesis of (?)‐lasonolide A is described. Our initial synthetic route to the top tetrahydropyran ring involved Evans asymmetric alkylation as the key step. Initially, we relied on the diastereoselective alkylation of an α‐alkoxyacetimide derivative containing an α′ stereogenic center and investigated such an asymmetric alkylation reaction. Although alkylation proceeded in good yield, the lack of diastereoselectivity prompted us to explore alternative routes. Our subsequent successful synthetic strategies involved highly diastereoselective cycloaddition routes to both tetrahydropyran rings of lasonolide A. The top tetrahydropyran ring was constructed stereoselectively by an intramolecular 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction. The overall process constructed a bicyclic isoxazoline, which was later unravelled to a functionalized tetrahydropyran ring as well as a quaternary stereocenter present in the molecule. The lower tetrahydropyran ring was assembled by a Jacobsen catalytic asymmetric hetero‐Diels–Alder reaction as the key step. The synthesis also features a Lewis acid catalyzed epoxide opening to form a substituted ether stereoselectively.     

A simple approach for the synthesis of azocine alkaloids: The total synthesis of megallanesine

A new three step synthetic route to construct azocine ring system using anion chemistry and intramolecular Friedel-Craft reaction of an ester is presented. This method allows synthesis of azocine ring analogues in excellent overall yields. The designed strategy was applied for the synthesis of naturally occurring magallanesine.     

Total synthesis of (±)-isophellibiline

The total synthesis of (±)-isophellibiline is described. This represents the first synthesis of a member of the nonaromatic homoerythrinan family of alkaloids. The tetracyclic ring system of the natural product was quickly assembled by a strategy that features a retrocycloaddition/cycloaddition reaction of an amidodioxin, an intramolecular Heck reaction and a 6π-electrocyclic ring closure of a dienoic acid.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of FR900482

The development of two approaches for the enantioselective total synthesis of FR900482 is described. A precursor for the formation of the benzazocine ring was assembled effectively by a modification of the Sonogashira coupling of an aryl triflate with a chiral acetylene unit derived from tartaric acid and the subsequent novel ketone formation via conjugate addition of pyrrolidine to the o-nitrophenylacetylene derivative. The first-generation approach to the key pentacyclic intermediate of our racemic total synthesis utilizes an intramolecular Mitsunobu reaction of an omega-hydroxynitrobenzenesulfonamide to form the benzazocine ring and a stepwise sequence to construct the hydroxymethyl group at the C(7) position. The key intermediate could be synthesized in optically pure form via formation of the characteristic hydroxylamine hemiacetal and a stereoselective epoxide formation. In the second-generation approach, the N-hydroxybenzazocine ring could be constructed directly from an omega-formylnitrobenzene derivative by intramolecular reductive hydroxylamination. The crucial stereoselective hydroxymethylation and the formation of the hydroxylamine hemiacetal could be performed efficiently by a one-pot sequence. After leading to the pentacyclic key intermediate, the total synthesis of (+)-FR900482 was accomplished by a modification of our protocol established in the racemic total synthesis. Stereochemical issues involved in the hydroxymethylation at the C(7) position and formation of the hydroxylamine hemiacetal are also discussed in detail.     

Tandem double intramolecular [4+2]/[3+2] cycloadditions of nitroalkenes: construction of the pentacyclic core structure of daphnilactone B

An asymmetric synthesis of the ABCD ring system of daphnilactone B is described. The synthesis features a tandem, double intramolecular, [4+2]/[3+2] cycloaddition of a highly functionalized, enantiomerically enriched nitroalkene to generate a pentacyclic nitroso acetal. The cycloaddition establishes six contiguous stereogenic centers including the critical CD ring junction that bears two quaternary stereogenic centers. Hydrogenolysis of the nitroso acetal followed by amide reduction and cyclization provided the AB rings. The methyl substituent on the A ring was installed in the correct configuration via hydrogenation of an exocyclic olefin in the final step.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-stemodinone via an efficient ring-exchange strategy

A total synthesis of (+/-)-stemodinone, a tetracyclic stemodane diterpene, from the known tricyclic methyl olefin 11 is described. The key steps involve an efficient ring-exchange reaction and palladium(0)-catalyzed lactone migration. The ring-exchange strategy for controlling the stereochemistry was based on an initial Diels-Alder reaction to form a new ring followed by cleavage of the original ring. Cleavage of the original ring of the Diels-Alder adduct 9 was achieved by an initial regio- and chemoselective Baeyer-Villiger oxidation followed by the Pd(0)-catalyzed lactone-migration reaction reported by us.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Propindilactone G,Part 2: Enantioselective Construction of the Fully Functionalized BCDE Ring System

The enantioselective synthesis of the fully functionalized BCDE tetracyclic ring system of propindilactone G ( A ) is reported. Several synthetic methods were developed and applied to achieve this goal, including: 1) an asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction in the presence of Hayashi′s catalyst for the synthesis of optically pure key intermediate 3 ; 2) an intramolecular Pauson–Khand reaction (PKR) for the stereoselective synthesis of the BCDE ring with an all‐carbon chiral quaternary center at the C13 position by using the TMS‐substituted acetylene as the substrate; and 3) Pd‐catalyzed reductive hydrogenolysis for the stereoselective synthesis of the fully functionalized BCDE tetracyclic ring system. The chemistry developed herein provided a greater understanding of the total synthesis propindilactone G ( A ) and its analogues.     

Total Synthesis of Aculenes B and D

The first total synthesis of aculene D, a structurally rare nordaucane-type natural product exhibiting quorum sensing inhibitory activity, has been accomplished from a known five-membered hydroxy carboxylic acid. Nucleophilic addition of methallylzinc bromide to a β-keto aldehyde intermediate under Barbier conditions to install the secondary hydroxy group on the seven-membered ring of aculene D gave the corresponding alcohol with an undesired configuration predominantly. On the other hand, the protection of its keto group as the ethylene acetal induced a reversal of diastereoselectivity, affording a desired diastereomer in a selective manner. The construction of the seven-membered ring was realized by ring-closing metathesis using a triethylsilyl-protected monocyclic diene ester precursor. An additional five-step manipulation on the cyclization product including the installation of an ethyl group on the five-membered ring completed the synthesis of aculene D, whose esterification with an N-protected l -proline followed by deprotection also achieved the first total synthesis of aculene B.     

Stereocontrolled total synthesis of (-)-ephedradine A (orantine)

The stereocontrolled total synthesis of (-)-ephedradine A has been accomplished. The synthesis features an asymmetric C-H insertion reaction, an intramolecular ester-amide exchange reaction, and a Sharpless asymmetric aminohydroxylation reaction. Construction of the complex macrocyclic ring was performed by Ns-strategy and an intramolecular aza-Wittig reaction.     

Regioselective epoxide ring opening. Steroselective synthesis of a tetrahydropyran ring

The stereoselective synthesis of a 2-substituted tetrahydropyran with adjacent alkoxy-bearing stereogenic centre is described. The key steps of this synthesis were the stereoselective epoxidation of an allylic alcohol and the regioselective epoxide ring opening by lithium aluminum hydride. The regio and stereoselective synthesis of a trihydroxyselenide and a trihydroxysulfide is also described. The latter compounds are not suitable for cyclization to tetrahydrofuran ring.