A concise and improved synthesis of (+)-eleutherin, (+)-allo-eleutherin and a formal synthesis of (+)-nocardione B

A concise and improved stereoselective synthesis of (+)-eleutherin, (+)-allo-eleutherin and the formal synthesis of (+)-nocardione B is described. The synthesis is based on a Dötz benzannulation and an improved oxa-Pictet-Spengler cyclization as the key steps. The synthesis is achieved in six steps in overall yields of 18% for eleutherin and 20% for allo-eleutherin.     

Formal synthesis of (+)-didemniserinolipid B

The formal synthesis of (+)-didemniserinolipid B is achieved using Weinreb reaction, Yadav’s chiral propargyl alcohol protocol and hydrolytic ketal formation as the key steps.     

Total synthesis of (+)-quassin

A total synthesis of (+)-quassin from naturally occurring (S)-(+)-carvone is described. The total number of steps was 28, and the overall yield was about 2.6%. The synthetic strategy for the construction of the tetracyclic carbon framework was based on a C-->ABC-->ABCD ring annulation sequence, involving an aldol reaction, an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction, and an intramolecular acylation as the key steps. Subsequent functionalization of ring A and ring C then afforded the target (+)-quassin.     

Formal enantioselective synthesis of (+)-estrone

A formal total synthesis of (+)-estrone (4% overall yield; ca. 12 steps) could be achieved via the Torgov diene. An asymmetric allylic substitution is the key step for the construction of the chiral quaternary carbon center of a synthetic intermediate which was converted in four steps to the Torgov diene. [reaction: see text]     

Formal synthesis of (+)-discodermolide

[structure: see text] Herein we report the formal total synthesis of (+)-discodermolide in 21 steps (longest linear sequence) from commercially available Roche ester. This synthesis features the assembly of C(9-18) and C(19-24) fragments via a metal-chelated aldol coupling reaction.     

Total synthesis of (+)-papulacandin D

A total synthesis of (+)-papulacandin D has been achieved in 31 steps, in a 9.2% overall yield from commercially available materials. The synthetic strategy divided the molecule into two nearly equal sized subunits, the spirocyclic C-arylglycopyranoside and the polyunsaturated fatty acid side-chain. The C-arylglycopyranoside was prepared in 11 steps in a 30% overall yield from triacetoxyglucal. The fatty acid side-chain was also prepared in 11 steps in a 30% overall yield from geraniol. The key strategic transformations in the synthesis are: (1) a palladium-catalyzed, organosilanolate-based cross-coupling reaction of a dimethylglucal-silanol with an electron-rich and sterically hindered aromatic iodide and (2) a Lewis-base catalyzed, enantioselective allylation reaction of a dienal and allyltrichlorosilane. A critical element in the successful execution of the synthesis was the development of a suitable protecting group strategy that satisfied a number of stringent criteria.     

A new approach to (+)-anisomycin

An efficient approach to enantiomerically pure (+)-deacetylanisomycin 2a and a formal synthesis of (+)-anisomycin 2 (11% overall yield in 10 steps) have been achieved through simple and good yielding reactions, starting from 1,2:3,4:5,6-tri-O-isopropylidene-d-mannitol 3. Grignard reaction and intramolecular cyclisation reactions are key steps in the strategy.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of (+)-nephrosterinic acid and (+)-protolichesterinic acid

A diastereoselective synthesis of (+)-nephrosterinic acid and (+)-protolichesterinic acid, common members of the paraconic acids is described. The synthesis is based on a diastereoselective orthoester Johnson–Claisen rearrangement of a (Z)-allyl alcohol with a vicinal dioxolane moiety as key steps. The synthesis is completed in 10 steps and with overall yields of 15.9% for (+)-nephrosterinic acid and 16.4% for (+)-protolichesterinic acid.     

Total synthesis of (+)-boronolide, (+)-deacetylboronolide,and (+)-dideacetylboronolide

Total synthesis of (+)-boronolide, (+)-deacetylboronolide, and (+)-dideacetylboronolide has been achieved from a single intermediate 26, which was synthesized in 11 steps from a d-mannitol-derived intermediate 8 in an overall yield of 10%. The key steps in the synthesis are inversion of a chiral center by taking an advantage of the inherent mechanism involved in the ring closing to an epoxide via intramolecular S(N)2 reaction and lactonization of a diol using Fetizons reagent. The strategy is amenable to preparation of analogues of (+)-boronolide in sufficient amount for further screening of biological activity.     

Formal total synthesis of (+)-diepoxin sigma

The highly oxygenated antifungal anticancer natural product (+/-)-diepoxin sigma was prepared in 10 steps and in 15% overall yield from O-methylnaphthazarin. Highlights of the synthetic work include an Ullmann coupling and a possibly biomimetic oxidative spirocyclization for the introduction of the naphthalene ketal as well as the use of a retro-Diels-Alder reaction to unmask the reactive enone moiety in the naphthoquinone bisepoxide ring system. A novel highly bulky chiral binaphthol ligand was developed for a boron-mediated Diels-Alder reaction that constitutes a formal asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-diepoxin sigma.     

A practical total synthesis of (+)-isogalbulin and (+)-galbulin

A practical total synthesis of the natural products (+)-isogalbulin and (+)-galbulin has been achieved in 10 steps from readily available 3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)propanoic acid. The total yields were 12.3% and 12.9%, respectively. The key steps involved Evans asymmetric alkylation, Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, and a highly regioselective opening of 1-benzyloxy-2,3-epoxides with an organoaluminum ate-complex formed by Me₃Al and n-BuLi.     

Formal enantioselective synthesis of (+)-vincamine. The first enantioselective route to (+)-3,14-epivincamine and its enantiomer

A formal synthesis of (+)-vincamine (1) from (S)-(+)-2-ethyl-2-(2-methoxycarbonylethyl) cyclopentanone (6a) is described. This intermediate had previously been obtained by our research group in 90% ee through d'Angelo's deracemizing alkylation of the chiral imine 7, easily prepared from (R)-(+)-α-methylbenzylamine and 2-ethyl cyclopentanone with methyl acrylate. A potencial advanced intermediate for the synthesis of (+)-4, an epimer of (+)-1 at positions C-3 and C-14, has also been prepared from 6a.     

A concise stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-artemisinin

A protective group free, concise, and stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-artemisinin, starting from readily available (R)-(+)-citronellal, is described. Asymmetric 1, 4-addition, Aldol condensation, Ene reaction, regioselective hydroboration are the key steps involved in the total synthesis of the target molecule.     

An asymmetric synthesis of (+)-desoxoprosophylline

An efficient synthesis of (+)-desoxoprosophylline is described. The key steps in the reaction sequence include the preparation of an N-Cbz-sulfilimine from the corresponding sulfoxide using the Burgess reagent, regio- and stereoselective hetero-functionalization of an alkene using the pendant sulfilimine as the nucleophile and a stereoselective amidomercuration to form the cis-2,6-disubstituted piperidine ring.     

Total synthesis of (+)-blastmycinone and formal synthesis of (+)-antimycin A3b

The formal synthesis of (+)-antimycin A_3b and the total synthesis of (+)-blastmycinone were achieved using, as a key step, a method developed by us for the synthesis of 2-methyl-1,3-diols via Ti(III)-mediated diastereo- and regioselective opening of trisubstituted 2,3-epoxy alcohols, to carry out the stereoselective construction of the hydroxy-acid segment. An interesting intramolecular radical translocation took place during the epoxide opening process transforming its vicinal PMB-ether in situ, into an ‘1,2-O-(p-methoxy)benzylidene’ ring.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-isocryptotanshinone and formal synthesis of (−)-cryptotanshinone

The first asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-isocryptotanshinone was achieved in 12 linear steps with 12% overall yield from commercially available dihydrobenzopyrone. The key step was a base-mediated cyclization reaction. In addition, the synthetic strategy included the formal synthesis of (−)-cryptotanshinone.     

First asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-curcutetraol

The first asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-curcutetraol, a marine phenolic bisabolane-type sesquiterpene, was achieved in eight steps in ca. 50% overall yield. The chiral tertiary benzylic alcohol moiety in the o-position of a phenol was constructed in high optical yield (99% ee) by an asymmetric synthesis using a chiral aminal, (2R,5S)-2-methoxycarbonyl-3-phenyl-1,3-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane.     

Asymmetric [4+3] cycloadditions between benzofuranyldiazoacetates and dienes: formal synthesis of (+)-frondosin B

The reaction of benzofuranyldiazoacetates with 1,3-dienes catalyzed by the dirhodium tetracarboxylate Rh2(R-DOSP)4, generates formal [4+3] cycloadducts with >94% de and 91-98% ee. The reaction proceeds by a tandem cyclopropanation/Cope rearrangement followed by a stereoselective tautomerization. This methodology was extended to a formal synthesis of (+)-frondosin B.     

Concise formal synthesis of (+)-pyripyropene A

A concise enantioselective synthesis of A/B bicyclic segment of naturally occurring α-pyrone meroterpenoid pyripyropene A is achieved in 9 steps (LLS) and 7.5% yield starting from R-(?)-carvone. The significant points of the synthesis include: (1) an intramolecular 1, 3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction to construct the A ring and assemble C4 quaternary carbon stereocenter as well; (2) reductive cleavage of the oxazole motif utilized Raney Ni/B(OCH₃)₃.     

A concise synthesis of (+)-goniofufurone, (+)-7-epi-goniofufurone, (+)-crassalactones B and C

The concise and efficient synthesis of (+)-goniofufurone, (+)-7-epi-goniofufurone, (+)-crassalactones B and C were achieved in 6 to 7 steps from the known d-glucono-δ-lactone derivative 9. An acid-mediated cascade cyclization was employed to construct the furanofurone bicyclic framework in one-pot.