Total synthesis of (+)-epiepoformin, (+)-epiepoxydon and (+)-bromoxone employing a useful chiral building block, ethyl (1R,2S)-5,5-ethylenedioxy-2-hydroxycyclohexanecarboxylate

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-epiepoformin 1, (+)-epiepoxydon 2 and (+)-bromoxone 3 using a chiral building block, ethyl (1R,2S)-5,5-ethylenedioxy-2-hydroxycyclo- hexanecarboxylate 6, is described. Since the synthesis afforded intermediates 18, 2 and 25, it accomplished a formal synthesis of (−)-theobroxide 19, (−)-phyllostine 22, (+)-herveynone 27 and (−)-asperpentyn 28. The usefulness of 6 for the synthesis of natural epoxycyclohexene derivatives was demonstrated.     

Short synthesis of noscapine, bicuculline, egenine, capnoidine, and corytensine alkaloids through the addition of 1-siloxy-isobenzofurans to imines

A concise diastereotioselective strategy for the synthesis of noscapine, bicuculline, and egenine (1a-c), as well as capnoidine and corytensine (2a,b), was developed using diastereoselective addition of 1-siloxy-isobenzofurans 4a and 4b to iminium ion 5 in a one-pot approach. The synthesis features the use of imine 13 obtained through Bischler-Napieralsky reaction from amine 11. The addition of ionic liquids as addictives in the reactions afforded erythro configuration in major adduct compounds. The synthetic route can also be applied in the total synthesis of promising tubulin binding agent EM105 (3).     

Synthesis of the marine furanoditerpene (−)-marginatone

A synthesis of the marine labdane furanoditerpene (−)-marginatone 1 has been accomplished by a short sequence of reactions starting from (+)-coronarin E 5. The key step is the stereocontrolled-intramolecular electrophilic cyclisation of the (+)-dihydrocoronarin E 6, to the tetracyclic marginatane skeleton 7, which is subsequently functionalized by allylic oxidation to give 1. As (+)-coronarin E 5 was previously synthesized from (−)-sclareol 10, the herein reported preparation constitutes the first formal total synthesis of (−)-marginatone 1, by which its absolute configuration has been confirmed.     

A new approach to the bicyclo[4.3.0] ring system of natural products from the liverwort: total synthesis of (±)-chiloscyphone and (±)-isochiloscyphone

Construction of the tricyclic derivative 5, a common intermediate for the synthesis of sesquiterpenoids 1-4, was accomplished by using the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction. Availability of 5 was demonstrated by effective total synthesis of chiloscyphone 1 and isochiloscyphone 2.     

An efficient synthesis of benzofurans and their application in the preparation of natural products of the genus Calea

The intramolecular cyclization of the β-substituted olefins methyl 2-aryloxy-3-dimethylaminopropenoates 3a-3f catalyzed by Lewis acids leads to a short and novel synthesis of benzofurans 2a-2f. When the olefins 4-dimethylamino-3-aryloxy-3-buten-2-ones 4a-4f were used, the cyclization process was faster and provided the corresponding substituted 2-acetylbenzofurans 1a-1f. Among the latter, naturally occurring compounds calebertin (1a), caleprunin A (1b), and caleprunin B (1c) were prepared in good overall yields. These benzofurans were also obtained by direct treatment under MW irradiation of the precursors 1-aryloxypropan-2-ones 7a-7c with DMFDMA, followed by addition of the catalyst, resulting in a route that was one step shorter.     

(2-Halogeno-5-pyridyl)dimethyl(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)silanes: New potential building blocks for the synthesis of silicon-containing drugs

(2-Fluoro-5-pyridyl)dimethyl(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)silane (1a) and (2-chloro-5-pyridyl)dimethyl(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)silane (1b) were prepared in two-step syntheses, starting from allylchlorodimethylsilane. Compounds 1a and 1b were characterized by elemental analyses and NMR studies. With the synthesis of 1a and 1b, new potential building blocks for the synthesis of silicon-containing drugs have been made accessible.     

Highly selective synthesis of 4(5)-aryl-, 2,4(5)-diaryl-, and 4,5-diaryl-1H-imidazoles via Pd-catalyzed direct C-5 arylation of 1-benzyl-1H-imidazole

Highly selective, practical, and efficient protocols for the preparation of 4(5)-aryl-1H-imidazoles 2, 2,4(5)-diaryl-1H-imidazoles 3, and 4,5-diaryl-1H-imidazoles 1 are described. A key step of these protocols is the regioselective synthesis of 5-aryl-1-benzyl-1H-imidazoles 9 by Pd-catalyzed direct C-5 arylation of commercially available 1-benzyl-1H-imidazole (8) with aryl halides. The three-step synthesis of compounds 3 from 8 also involves the Pd-catalyzed and Cu-mediated direct C-2 arylation of imidazoles 9 with aryl halides under base-free and ligandless conditions. On the other hand, the four-step synthesis of imidazoles 1 from 8 also involves the regioselective bromination of compounds 9 and a Suzuki reaction of the resulting 5-aryl-1-benzyl-4-bromo-1H-imidazoles 11 with arylboronic acids 5 under phase-transfer conditions, followed by N-debenzylation.     

Total synthesis of the mushroom metabolite (+)-calopin

A synthesis of (+)-calopin (1a) was achieved employing a highly stereoselective ene reaction between 8-phenylmenthyl glyoxylate (3) and the β,β-dimethylstyrene 4c. Transesterification of the resulting homoallylic alcohol 5c, followed by allylic oxidation and hydrogenation yielded the δ-lactone 13 which was deprotected to the natural product 1a.     

A novel and practical synthetic route for the total synthesis of lycopene

A novel route for the total synthesis of lycopene 1 is described. The synthesis is based on: (i) a condensation between 4,4-dimethoxy-3-methylbutanal 4 and methylenebisphosphonic acid tetraethyl ester 5, leading to the C6-phosphonate 6, followed by (ii) a modified Wittig-Horner reaction between 6 and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one 7 producing dimethoxy-3,5,9-triene 8, and (iii) another modified Wittig-Horner reaction between C15-phosphonate 2 and C10-triene dialdehyde 3 producing all-E-lycopene. The synthetic steps are easily operated and practical for the large-scale production.     

Facile total synthesis of the (−)-Heliconol A

The facile total synthesis of the (−)-Heliconol A (ent-1) as well as its diastereoisomer 18 is described, in which different reaction sequences lead to different results. The osmylation of 15 followed by hydrolysis afforded a single isomer 18, otherwise, a mixture of ent-1 and 18 resulted. Other important processes include the catalytic asymmetric CBS reduction and induced osmylation. The synthesis proceeded with a sequence of 11 steps, affording ent-1 in 9.0% and 18 in 22% overall yield, respectively.     

Studies on the Synthesis of Reidispongiolide A: Stereoselective Synthesis of the C(22)-C(36) Fragment

A highly stereoselective synthesis of the C(22)-C(36) fragment 2 of reidispongiolide A is described. This synthesis features the highly stereoselective mismatched double asymmetric crotylboration reaction of the aldehyde derived from 5 and the new chiral reagent (S)-(E)-7 that provides 12 with >15:1 dr. Subsequent coupling of the derived vinyl iodide 3 with aldehyde 16 provided allylic alcohol 17, that was elaborated by three steps into the targeted reidispongiolide fragment 2.     

Synthetic study of hetisine-type aconite alkaloids. Part 3: Total synthesis of (±)-nominine

Completion of the total synthesis of (±)-nominine (1) is described in detail. Based on the results of the preceding two papers, total synthesis of (±)-nominine was accomplished diverging from the intermediate 7. Thus, following pyrrolidine ring formation through transformation from 7 to 8, the C-ring was constructed by radical cyclization to form 10 from the enyne precursor 9. Subsequent elaboration of the C-ring, followed by formation of the azabicyclic ring system, completed a total synthesis of (±)-1. Single-crystal X-ray analysis of (±)-1 unambiguously confirmed its molecular structure and racemic crystal structure.     

Large-scale synthesis of 1,1,3,3,6-pentamethyl-1,3-disilaindan-5-ol via a CoBr2/Zn-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction

1,1,3,3,6-Pentamethyl-1,3-disilaindan-5-ol (2) is a key intermediate in the synthesis of new sila-substituted gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor antagonists, such as 1. In order to produce sufficient quantities of 1 for pharmacological and toxicological evaluation, an efficient synthesis of 2 has been developed. (1,1,3,3,6-Pentamethyl-1,3-disilaindan-5-yl)methanal (11) was synthesized in a one-pot procedure. CoBr₂/Zn-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of diyne 3 with the commercially available monoalkyne 15 was achieved through a slow addition of 3 and CoBr₂ to a mixture of 15 and zinc powder in refluxing acetonitrile, giving rise to 5-(diethoxymethyl)-1,1,3,3,6-pentamethyl-1,3-disilaindane (14). In-situ aqueous acidification yielded 11. Conversion to 2 was then achieved via a Baeyer-Villiger oxidation followed by hydrolysis under basic condition. This novel methodology is useful, not only for the rapid, large-scale synthesis of 2, but also for the synthesis and development of new sila-substituted drugs derived from 11.     

Synthetic study of hetisine-type aconite alkaloids. Part 2: Preparation of hexacyclic compound lacking the C-ring of the hetisan skeleton

A hexacyclic compound 1, having almost the full hetisine-type aconite alkaloid framework lacking only the C-ring with an exo-methylene group, was synthesized from the intermediate 3 reported in the preceding paper. The synthesis involved the following key reactions the crucial conversion of 3 to 4, a stereoselective hydrocyanation reaction to obtain 5 from 4, and construction of the azabicyclic ring system (5→1).     

Amberlyst 15 catalyzed synthesis of indole-pyrazole based tri(hetero)arylmethanes

An expedient synthesis of 1,3-diaryl-4-(3,3′-diindolyl)methylpyrazoles 3a-m has been developed using Amberlyst 15 catalyzed condensation of 1,3-diaryl-4-formyl pyrazoles 2 with indoles 1. This reaction was further extended to the synthesis of 4,4′-bis(3,3′-diindolyl)methylphenoxy-alkanes 5a-b by coupling of 4,4′-di(formylphenoxy)alkane 4 with indole 1.     

Regioselective synthesis of 4- and 5-oxazole-phosphine oxides and -phosphonates from 2H-azirines and acyl chlorides

A simple and efficient regioselective synthesis of 4-oxazole-phosphine oxides 11 and -phosphonates 12 from 2H-azirine-phosphine oxides 1 and -phosphonates 6 is described. The key step for the synthesis of oxazoles 11 is a base-mediated ring closure of vinylogous α-aminophosphorus compounds derived from phosphine oxides 4 and from phosphonates 8. These derivatives 4 and 8 are obtained by reaction of functionalized azirines 1 and 6 with acyl chlorides 2 and subsequent acid-catalyzed ring opening of N-acylaziridine-phosphine oxides 3 and -phosphonates 7. Regioselective thermal ring cleavage of N-acylaziridine-phosphine oxides 3 leads α-chloro-β-(N-acylamido)-phosphine oxides 13 and their treatment with bases gives 5-oxazole-phosphine oxides 16.     

Studies directed towards the stereoselective total synthesis of ilexlactone via a tandem ring-closing enyne metathesis protocol

Studies directed towards the stereoselective total synthesis of ilexlactone resulted in the synthesis of bicyclic systems 1a, 1b and ent-1a through tandem ring-closing enyne metathesis using Grubbs’ catalyst. The structures of synthetic 1a, 1b and ent-1a revealed that the proposed structure for ilexlactone is incorrect.     

A convenient enantioselective synthesis of 3-asymmetrically substituted oxindoles as progesterone receptor antagonists

A convenient enantioselective synthesis of 3-asymmetrically substituted oxindoles is reported. Compound (2) prepared by radical cyclisation of (1) was used for the synthesis of racemic and enantiomerically pure 3-asymmetrically substituted oxindoles. Desulfurisation of (2) using Raney Ni yielded the racemate (5). Addition of (S)-1-phenylethanol to compound (2) yielded the diastereoisomer (21) the structure of which was determined using X-ray crystallography. Using a sequence of steps (21) was converted to the enantiomer (8). The enantiomer (9) was similarly prepared from (2) using (R)-1-phenylethanol.     

Preparation of 3-hydroxyoxindoles with dimethyldioxirane and their use for the synthesis of natural products

This work describes a general protocol for the oxidation of indole and oxindole derivatives with dimethyldioxirane to give 3-hydroxyoxindoles present in many natural products. This strategy allowed us to synthesize the natural product 1, to carry out the first total synthesis of 4, a formal total synthesis of donaxaridine (5) and to achieve the synthesis of pyrroloindoline 8, a debromo analogue of the natural product flustraminol B (7).     

Total synthesis of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, (+)-vittatine and (+)-haemanthamine, starting from d-glucose

The stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-vittatine 1 and (+)-haemanthamine 2 starting from d-glucose is described. The cyclohexene ring in 1 was prepared in an optically active form from d-glucose using Ferrier's carbocyclization reaction, and the critical quaternary carbon was stereoselectively generated via chirality transfer by the Claisen rearrangement of cyclohexenol 6. The hexahydroindole skeleton was effectively constructed by the intramolecular aminomercuration-demercuration of 14, followed by Chugaev reaction to provide 16. Finally, Pictet-Spengler reaction completed the first chiral synthesis of (+)-vittatine 1. On the other hand, the α-hydroxylation of the ester 5 stereoselectively proceeded to give α-hydroxy ester 19, to which was introduced an amino function to provide 4. A similar transformation of 4, as employed in the synthesis of vittatine, furnished (+)-haemanthamine 2.