Total Syntheses of (−)-Secologanin, (−)-5-Carboxystrictosidine,and (−)-Rubenine

The first enantioselective total syntheses of (−)-secologanin ( 1 ), (−)-5-carboxystrictosidine ( 2 ), and (−)-rubenine ( 3 ) were accomplished in 10, 9, and 14 steps, respectively. The key transformation in the synthesis of 1 was a sequential anti-selective organocatalytic Michael reaction/Fukuyama reduction/spontaneous cyclization to form an optically active dihydropyran ring. In addition, the secologanin tetraacetate ( 16 ), which is a potential key intermediate for the bioinspired divergent syntheses of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, was prepared in gram-scale in seven steps. The total syntheses of 2 and 3 , which are classified as glycosylated monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, were achieved through bioinspired transformations such as a diastereoselective Pictet–Spengler reaction, a site- and stereoselective epoxidation, and a site-selective epoxide ring-opening followed by a lactonization reaction.     

Total Synthesis of Arylnaphthalene Lignans through a Photochemical Key Step

The total syntheses of three arylnaphthalene lignans ( ANL s) were developed: Vitrofolal E ( 1 ), Noralashinol C ( 2 ), and Ternifoliuslignan E ( 3 ). These natural products have in common a missing substituent in 2-position of the naphthalene moiety ( 2H-ANL s). The key step of these syntheses is a regioselective intramolecular Photo-Dehydro-Diels-Alder (PDDA) reaction with (1,7)naphthalenophanes as primary products. A further improvement of the photochemical step was achieved by triplet sensitization with xanthone, allowing the use of more efficient UVA lamps. It should be noted that this work is a continuation of a previous publication about the total synthesis of lignans using the PDDA reaction.^[1]     

An asymmetric synthesis of (2S,3S)-safingol

Two efficient asymmetric syntheses of (2S,3S)-safingol have been developed starting from easily available (R)-cyclohexylideneglyceraldehyde. The key steps in the syntheses were a diastereoselective addition of a suitable alkylmagnesium or lithium reagent, and simple organic transformations. Compared to earlier syntheses, the route involving alkyllithium addition is more viable practically due to its excellent diastereoselectivity, use of inexpensive materials/reagents and operational simplicity.     

Enantioselective total syntheses of slagenins A-C and their antipodes

Full details of the total syntheses of slagenins A-C (1a-c) and their antipodes (2a-c), novel bromopyrrole alkaloids with a unique tetrahydrofuro[2,3-d]imidazolidin-2-one moiety, are described in which their absolute stereochemistry was established. The key step in the syntheses involves the efficient condensation of dihydrofuran-3-one or glyoxal with urea to construct the slagenin bicycle core.     

Streamlined synthesis of phosphatidylinositol (PI), PI3P, PI3,5P2, and deoxygenated analogues as potential biological probes

Highly direct total syntheses of phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI3P), phosphatidylinositol-3,5-bisphosphate (PI3,5P2), and a range of deoxygenated versions are reported. Each synthesis is carried out to deliver the target in optically pure form. The key step for each synthesis is a catalytic asymmetric phosphorylation reaction that affects desymmetrization of an appropriate myo-inositol precursor. Elaboration to each target compound is then carried out employing a diversity-oriented strategy from the common precursors. In addition to three natural products, several additional streamlined total syntheses of deoxygenated PI analogues are reported. These syntheses set the stage for high-precision biological investigations of polar headgroup/biological target interactions of these membrane-associated signaling molecules.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of the endo- and exo-spirotetronate subunits of the quartromicins. The first enantioselective Diels-Alder reaction of an acyclic (Z)-1,3-diene

[reaction: see text]. Diastereoselective syntheses of the endo- and exo-spirotetronates 1 and 2, corresponding to the galacto and agalacto fragments of quartromicins A3 and D3, are described. The key step of these syntheses are highly enantio- and diastereoselective Lewis acid catalyzed Diels-Alder reactions of the 1,1,3,4-tetrasubstituted diene 3.     

Enantioselective Construction of Vicinal Stereogenic Quaternary Centers by Dialkylation: Practical Total Syntheses of (+)- and meso-Chimonanthine

All three stereoisomers of the hexacyclic 3a,3a'-bispyrrolidino[2,3-b]indoline moiety found in complex indole alkaloids can be prepared, as illustrated by total syntheses of meso-chimonanthine (1) and (+)-chimonanthine (2). A rare example of high diastereoselectivity arising from the combination of a prostereogenic enolate with a chiral electrophile containing a sp(3) carbon atom is the key feature of the asymmetric synthesis of the C(2) stereoisomer.     

Total syntheses of amphidinolides T1 and T4 via catalytic, stereoselective, reductive macrocyclizations

Described in this work are total syntheses of amphidinolides T1 and T4 using two nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling reactions of alkynes, with an epoxide in one case (intermolecular) and with an aldehyde in another (intramolecular). The latter was used to effect a macrocyclization, form a C-C bond, and install a stereogenic center with >10:1 selectivity in both natural product syntheses. Alternative approaches in which intermolecular alkyne-aldehyde reductive coupling reactions would serve to join key fragments were investigated and are also discussed; it was found that macrocyclization (i.e. intramolecular alkyne-aldehyde coupling) was superior in several respects (diastereoselectivity, yield, and length of syntheses). Alkyne-epoxide reductive couplings were instrumental in the construction of key fragments corresponding to approximately half of the molecule of both natural products. In one case (T4 series), the alkyne-epoxide coupling exhibited very high site selectivity in a coupling of a diyne. A model for the stereoselectivity observed in the macrocyclizations is also proposed.     

Stereocontrolled syntheses of deoxyribonucleosides via photoinduced electron-transfer deoxygenation of benzoyl-protected ribo- and arabinonucleosides

The stereocontrolled, de novo syntheses of beta-2'-deoxy-, alpha-2'-deoxy-, beta-3'-deoxy-, and beta-2', 3'-dideoxyribonucleosides are described. Strategically protected ribose, arabinose, and xylose glycosylation precursors were synthesized bearing C2-esters capable of directing Vorbrüggen glycosylation. The key step is the regioselective deoxygenation of the desired hydroxyl group as either the benzoyl- or 3-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl derivative. This deoxygenation is accomplished via a photoinduced electron-transfer (PET) mechanism using carbazole derivatives as the photosensitizer. The syntheses of the desired deoxynucleoside generally proceed in three steps from a common, readily available precursor.     

Alternative Syntheses of 3-Hydrazino-1,2,4-Triazino-[4,3-a]Benzimidazole: Evidence for the Dihydrazino Intermediate

2-S-methyl-mercapto-benzimidazole and 2-chloro-1-methoxy-carbonylmethyl-benzimidazole were utilized as starting materials for the two independent syntheses of 3-Hydrazino-1,2,4-triazino[4,3-a] benzimidazole. The probability of the formation of a dihydrazino compound as the key intermediate in these syntheses as well as in the previously reported synthesis has been confirmed.     

Total syntheses of cladoacetals A and B: confirmation of absolute configurations

The first enantioselective syntheses of cladoacetals A (1a, overall yield: 16%) and B (1b, overall yield: 34%) from crotonaldehyde in nine and seven steps, respectively, have been accomplished. Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, Suzuki coupling, and acid-catalyzed intramolecular acetalization were the key steps in the syntheses. The absolute configuration of natural (+)-cladoacetal A was affirmed to be 1S,3S,4R, whereas that of (-)-cladoacetal B was affirmed to be 1R,3S,4S.     

Facile Syntheses of (±)-Curcuphenol, (±)-Curcudiol, (±)-Curcuhydroquinone,and (±)-Curcuquinone

The syntheses of (±)-curcuphenol 1, (±)-curcudiol 2, (±)-curcuhydroquinone 3, and (±)-curcuquinone 4 have been achieved. The key steps involved in the syntheses were the Reformatsky reaction and hydrogenation reaction.     

New approach to aphidicolin and total asymmetric synthesis of unnatural (11R)-(-)-8-epi-11-hydroxyaphidicolin by tandem transannular Diels-Alder/aldol reactions

The 8-epiaphidicolane skeleton (3) was formed in one key reaction by highly diastereoselective tandem transannular Diels-Alder (TADA)-aldol reactions from the trans-trans-cis trienic macrocycle (4). The unnatural derivative (11R)-(-)-8-epi-11-hydroxyaphidicolin (2) was thus constructed, and an original solution to the C16 functionalization problem of many aphidicolin (1) syntheses is presented.     

Enantioselective Syntheses of the Proposed Structures of Kopeolin and Kopeolone

The first total syntheses of the proposed structures of kopeolin ( 1 ) and kopeolone ( 3 ) have been achieved from a common enantiopure chiral building block obtained by a chemoenzymatic enantioconvergent methodology. The syntheses feature two key steps: a one‐pot reduction/diastereoselective protonation followed by a highly diastereoselective addition of an organocerate. The synthetic structures were fully characterized and all stereocenters were confirmed. The results show that the two previously reported structures were not assigned correctly, and suggest an initial structural misassignment during the isolation of the natural products. Thus, two revised structures, 1′ for kopeolin and 3′ for kopeolone, are proposed.     

Asymmetric syntheses of phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphates with saturated and unsaturated side chains through catalytic asymmetric phosphorylation

Highly direct asymmetric syntheses of phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI3P) in each enantiomerically pure form have been achieved. The key step involves catalytic asymmetric phosphorylation of meso-myo-inositol derivatives through desymmetrization. Protecting group schemes have been employed that allow for synthesis of PI3P with either saturated or arachidonate side chains, in analogy to the naturally occurring systems. Syntheses in each enantiomeric series are reported that rely on the choice of enantioselective peptide-based catalyst to define the enantiomeric series in which the syntheses are carried out.     

Total synthesis of (-)-martinellic acid via radical addition-cyclization-elimination reaction

The asymmetric total synthesis of martinellic acid, the first pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinoline alkaloid found in nature, is described. Three key steps in our synthesis of (-)-martinellic acid are the Bu(3)SnH-promoted radical addition-cyclization-elimination (RACE) reaction of an oxime ether with an alpha,beta-unsaturated ester to generate the pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinoline core, a chemoselective lactam carbonyl reduction, and guanidinylation under Mitsunobu reaction conditions. The key radical cyclization has also been investigated by using SmI(2). (-)-Martinellic acid was synthesized from commercially available methyl 4-bromo-3-methylbenzoate in fewer steps than previous syntheses and in an improved overall yield.     

Application of chiral cationic catalysts to several classical syntheses of racemic natural products transforms them into highly enantioselective pathways

This paper describes the application of chiral oxazaborolidinium cations of type 2 to various enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions that have served as early key steps for the syntheses of complex natural products. In the original syntheses these Diels-Alder reactions produced racemic adducts and led to racemic target molecules unless a separation of enantiomers by classical resolution was employed. By use of chiral catalysts of type 2, chiral products were obtained directly from Diels-Alder reactions of achiral components in excellent yield and enantioselectivity and with the mechanistically predicted absolute configuration. As a result, a number of classical syntheses could be converted to enantioselective versions, including (1) cortisone/cortisol (Merck/Sarett), (2) dendrobine (Kende), (3) vitamin B(12) (Eschenmoser), (4) myrocin C (Chu-Moyer/Danishefsky), (5) coriolin and hirsutene (Mehta), (6) dendrobatid 251F (Aube), (7) silphinene (Ito), and (8) nicandrenone core (Stoltz/Corey).     

Synthesis of marine polyacetylenes callyberynes A-C by transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions to sp centers

Efficient total syntheses of the sponge-derived hydrocarbon polyacetylenes callyberynes A-C have been achieved using metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of highly unsaturated 1,3-diyne fragments as the key steps, namely: Cadiot-Chodkiewicz reaction under Alami's optimized conditions (sp-sp), sequential Sonogashira reaction of a cis,cis-divinyl dihalide (sp2-sp), and Kumada-Corriu reaction of an unactivated alkyl iodide (sp3-sp). This last approach constitutes the first application of a metal-catalyzed sp3-sp Kumada-Corriu cross-coupling reaction to the synthesis of a natural product.     

Simple, catalytic enantioselective syntheses of estrone and desogestrel

Highly enantioselective and very short syntheses of the bioactive forms of estrone (3) and desogestrel (4) are described using a chiral oxazaborolidinium catalyst (2) in the key initial step. Enantiomerically pure estrone was synthesized in eight steps from the readily available starting materials diene 5 and alpha,beta-enal 6 via intermediates 8 and 9. Desogestrel was synthesized using a similar strategy from diene 5 and alpha,beta-enal 11 via intermediates 12-17. The efficient syntheses of the chiral catalyst 2 and its enantiomer are also presented.     

Application of the Lewis acid-Lewis base bifunctional asymmetric catalysts to pharmaceutical syntheses: stereoselective chiral building block syntheses of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitor and beta3-adenergic receptor agonist

Chiral building block syntheses of promising drugs were achieved using two types of catalytic stereoselective cyanosilylations of aldehydes promoted by Lewis acid-Lewis base bifunctional catalysts 1 and 2 as the key steps (diastereoselective cyanosilylation of amino aldehyde and enantioselective cyanosilylation). In the first part of this article, syntheses of chiral building blocks (6) of Atazanavir (3: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitor) using the bifunctional catalyst 2 are discussed. The reaction of Boc-protected phenylalaninal 21 in the presence of 1 mol% catalyst 2 selectively afforded the anti isomer 22 as the major product (diastereomeric ratio=97 : 3), which was successively converted to the corresponding epoxide 6 in six steps. In the second part, we describe a chiral building block synthesis of beta(3)-adrenergic receptor agonists. The enantioselective cyanosilylation of 3-chlorobenzaldehyde (38) with 9 mol% catalyst 1 gave the chiral cyanohydrin 39, which was converted to beta-hydroxyethylamine 40 by reduction. Moreover, the chiral ligand of catalyst 1 could be recovered without column chromatography and reused without decreasing its activity.